Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the central government after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education released its 382nd report on the National Testing Agency (NTA). The report, chaired by Rajya Sabha member Mukul Wasnik, was presented on 9 October and follows the cancellation of the NEET‑UG 2026 exam due to question‑paper leaks. Ramesh said the findings expose “grave incompetence and malpractice” within the NTA and the Ministry of Education.
Wasnik’s panel recommended a complete shift of medical entrance exams to computer‑based testing, limits on age and attempts for NEET‑UG, and the use of the NTA’s surplus to set up government‑owned centres in every district. It also called for strict quarantine measures for question‑setters to prevent leaks. The report highlights the need for reforms after nine paper leaks have been documented since the NTA’s formation in 2017.
Ramesh questioned the NTA’s legal status, noting it is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act rather than a statutory body, which he says limits accountability. He pointed out the agency has only 39 sanctioned posts, of which 23 are filled, leaving a 41% vacancy and forcing reliance on private contractors. He also criticized the lack of a national blacklist for firms that have failed in past services and the absence of transparent result publication.
The leader also accused the NTA of operating like a profit‑oriented entity, citing a Rs 590 crore surplus that was parked in fixed deposits instead of improving infrastructure or supporting students. He highlighted the lack of stable leadership, noting that between the 2024 and 2026 NEET leaks the Director‑General position was held on an additional charge. Ramesh urged the Modi government to heed the committee’s recommendations and address the agency’s shortcomings before the end of its term.
