New Delhi

Members of a parliamentary panel on Friday reportedly stressed the importance of maintaining the credibility and integrity of the NEET-UG examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), while also calling for stronger safeguards to prevent future irregularities, sources said.

The concerns were raised during a meeting of the Committee on Government Assurances, chaired by AIADMK MP M Thambidurai. The panel was briefed by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh and CBI Director Praveen Sood, among other senior officials.

Officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission (NMC) also attended the meeting and shared their views.

According to sources, committee members referred to a statement made by the Education Ministry in the Rajya Sabha in July 2024 regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and the subsequent CBI investigation into the matter.

The CBI is currently probing the latest NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, which resulted in the cancellation of the examination and its rescheduling for June 21.

Sources said the NTA Director General made a detailed presentation before the panel. Members reportedly underlined that the MBBS seat matrix should remain unaffected and that the counselling process should proceed on schedule despite the disruption caused by the paper leak controversy.

The Education Ministry had informed Parliament in July 2024 that NEET-UG 2024 was conducted on May 5 by the NTA, after which reports of cheating and other irregularities emerged.

At the time, the ministry had directed the CBI to carry out a comprehensive probe into all alleged irregularities linked to the examination, including conspiracy, cheating and breach of trust.

The ministry had also clarified that the 2024 examination itself was not postponed, though a re-test was conducted for 1,563 candidates following recommendations made by a high-powered NTA committee.

In addition, the government had constituted a seven-member expert committee headed by former ISRO chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in examination procedures, data security measures and the overall functioning of the NTA.

Sources said members of the parliamentary panel sought details regarding the implementation of the committee’s recommendations.

Last week, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports had also reviewed the matter and sought an update from the NTA Director General regarding the investigation into the paper leak case and measures being adopted to prevent similar incidents in the future.

According to sources, the NTA chief informed the panel that the paper leak did not originate from the agency’s internal systems and reiterated that the CBI investigation was ongoing.

Members of the standing committee also questioned officials about the transition of NEET-UG to a computer-based examination format from next year. Discussions reportedly covered issues such as test infrastructure, examination frequency, duration and technical preparedness.

Committee chairman Digvijaya Singh later told reporters that the meeting had been productive and that members had expressed serious concern over the issues discussed.

Sources further said the committee reviewed the implementation status of the K Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations and was informed that around 75 per cent of the suggested reforms had already been implemented.

Officials also reportedly informed the panel that the NTA is facing nearly 25 per cent staff vacancies, and steps are being taken to strengthen the organisation through fresh appointments and other administrative measures.

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As part of its ongoing investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, the CBI has so far arrested 13 people, including a doctor from Latur and a faculty member associated with a Pune-based coaching institute.