Parliament panel summons NTA, Education Ministry and CBI over exam assurances

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has summoned senior officials from the Union Education Ministry, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear before it on Friday over assurances linked to the conduct of examinations by the testing body.

According to a notice issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on May 27, the Committee on Government Assurances will record the views of Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Abhishek Singh, Director General of NTA, and Praveen Sood, Director of the CBI.

The meeting is scheduled for 11 am on Friday.

Assurance linked to NTA examination conduct

The matter relates to an assurance given in the Rajya Sabha in response to an unstarred question dated November 27, 2024, on “Conduct of Examination by NTA”, the notice stated.

In its written reply, the Education Ministry had said, as informed by the NTA, that contracts for conducting examinations are awarded to agencies “as per the extant rules, orders and guidelines issued by the Government of India”.

It had also informed the House that complaints against vendors are handled in line with the terms and conditions set out in work orders or tender documents, and that action may range “from deduction of payment to debarment” after establishing deficiency of service.

NEET-UG probe and separate medical college matter

On the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case, the ministry had said the CBI was carrying out a “comprehensive investigation into the entire gamut of alleged irregularities including conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust etc.” and had filed five charge sheets against 45 accused as on November 22, 2024.

The NEET-UG examination for admissions to medical courses was held on May 3 this year but was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak. The CBI is investigating the matter, and a retest has been scheduled for June 21.

The committee will also hear the views of Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, National Medical Commission (NMC) Chairman Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth, and the CBI Director in relation to another assurance given in response to a Rajya Sabha unstarred question dated July 29, 2025, on the “Medical College Scam”, according to the notice.

On the “Medical College Scam”, the Health Ministry had stated in its written reply that the CBI had registered an FIR in New Delhi under provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with alleged irregularities involving dummy faculty, fake inspections and falsified patient records. It had added that the matter is under investigation by the CBI.