NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee examining the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday reviewed the proposal to convert NEET-UG from pen-and-paper mode to computer-based testing (CBT) from next year, and discussed the alleged paper leak in the 2026 medical entrance exam, with officials assuring the committee that the re-test on June 21 will be conducted without any errors, people familiar with the matter said.
Later in the day, Congress leaders rejected media reports that claimed the committee, headed by party MP Digvijaya Singh, had given a “clean chit” to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over the NEET controversy.
The 31-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports met officials from the NTA as well as the Education and Health Ministries to discuss the future of NEET-UG and broader examination reforms.
At the meeting, NTA officials presented a comparative evaluation of pen-and-paper testing and cognitive-behavioral therapy before the committee, highlighting the pros and cons of both testing modes, the people cited above said.
Officials argued that the pen-and-paper format remains available across the country and allows all candidates to take one test at a time without the need for score normalization. However, they also pointed to vulnerabilities associated with printing, transporting and storing question papers, and the potential for physical misconduct, the people said.
Regarding cognitive behavioral therapy, officials said digital tests eliminate the physical paper supply chain, allow for encrypted delivery of question papers and faster processing of results, and can support more advanced assessment formats. However, they cited concerns regarding technical malfunctions, cybersecurity risks, and the need to run tests across multiple shifts, requiring normalization of results.
The officials also briefed the committee about the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, which is being investigated by the CBI. NTA officials assured the committee that extensive safeguards had been put in place for the re-examination on June 21 and that the examination in pen-and-paper format would be conducted smoothly, the people said.
On the other hand, the United Doctors Front, a doctors’ group invited to attend the meeting, claimed that its representatives were not allowed to make a presentation before the committee, but committee chairman Digvijaya Singh accepted its memorandum.
“It is unfortunate that the organization that represents the interests of young doctors and medical aspirants across the country was not given the opportunity to present its views before the committee despite being formally invited,” said Dr Lakshya Mittal, president, United Doctors Front.
After the meeting, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh denied reports that the committee supported the government’s handling of the examination controversy.
“The Standing Committee on Education has not given any clear signal to the Prime Minister or his ‘regime’ and Digvijaya Singh has not expressed confidence in them,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
Singh said that the discussions that took place in the parliamentary standing committee could not be revealed before the committee’s report was submitted to Parliament. However, he added that the committee members are united in seeking improvements in the examination system and that concerns regarding NEET are being examined beyond party lines.
