NTA must gain statutory status, parliamentary panel flags digital divide in exams

A parliamentary standing committee has recommended that the National Testing Agency (NTA) be granted statutory status, arguing that the examination body requires stronger legal powers and institutional independence to manage large-scale tests like NEET-UG. The committee, which met on Wednesday, also raised concerns about the shift to computer-based testing (CBT) and its impact on students from marginalised communities.

Statutory status means an organisation is established through an Act of Parliament, giving it a legal mandate, defined powers, autonomy, and accountability structures. Currently, the NTA operates under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, a framework that critics say does not provide adequate independent authority for the scale and sensitivity of national examinations.

The Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, now chaired by Congress member Mukul Wasnik, convened its first meeting under his leadership to examine the conduct of the NEET-UG re-examination and explore structural reforms for the NTA.

Three senior officials briefed the panel: R Radhakrishnan, former ISRO chairman and head of the high-powered committee on examination reforms; Abhishek Singh, Director General of NTA; and Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education. Radhakrishnan confirmed that his panel's recommended reforms are being implemented in phases, though no specific timeline was given.

Committee members argued that the successful conduct of the NEET-UG re-examination required mobilisation across government levels, from the Prime Minister's Office downwards. They stressed that the NTA needs legal authority and institutional muscle—provided only by statutory status—to handle similar high-stakes exams independently in future.

Members also raised concerns about students being denied entry to examination centres for arriving late, urging the NTA to handle such situations with greater sensitivity and flexibility. Additionally, as the NTA plans to adopt CBT for NEET-UG from 2027, members flagged readiness and access challenges for students from marginalised sections, who may have little experience with computer-based assessments. They asked that the interests of these groups be central to any format transition.

Some members suggested conducting NEET-UG in a graded format, similar to UPSC's multi-stage Civil Services Examination, to reduce pressure from a single high-stakes sitting. Others questioned whether nursing and related examinations could be held separately to ease logistics by reducing the number of examinees per sitting.

The NEET-UG 2026 examination was originally held on May 3 but was cancelled after reports of a paper leak. The re-examination took place on June 21 and is reported to have been conducted smoothly. The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating the leak.