Parliamentary Committee Presses NTA and CBSE Over Exam Integrity Concerns
A parliamentary panel has escalated its scrutiny of India’s examination systems, demanding clear answers from the National Testing Agency (NTA) regarding its definition of a question paper leak and seeking detailed explanations from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) about its on-screen marking (OSM) technology. The committee’s questions come amid ongoing controversies surrounding the NEET-UG examination and CBSE’s digital evaluation methods.
NTA Asked to Define Paper Leak
The committee has formally requested the NTA to clarify what constitutes a “paper leak” according to its internal protocols. Additionally, the agency has been asked to confirm whether any examination conducted under its purview since 2018 has experienced such an incident. This line of questioning emerged following a meeting last week where NTA officials presented their position to the panel.
During that session, agency representatives reportedly maintained that no question paper had ever been compromised through their systems. They suggested that certain materials circulating beforehand were merely “guess papers” and should not be classified as actual leaks. The committee has now sought written clarification on this stance, indicating dissatisfaction with the verbal explanation provided.
Written Responses Demanded from Both Institutions
The standing committee on education, women, children, youth and sports, chaired by Congress MP Digvijay Singh, is conducting a thorough investigation into these matters. Both the NTA and CBSE have been instructed to submit formal written responses addressing the committee’s specific concerns.
Among the questions directed at the NTA is whether it conducted any independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities surrounding NEET-UG 2024, separate from the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe. The committee has also requested information about staffing levels over the past three years, details of recruitments made after 2022, and copies of annual reports submitted to the higher education department.
Radhakrishnan Committee Recommendations Under Review
Further scrutiny has been directed at the implementation status of recommendations made by the expert panel led by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan. That committee had proposed 101 suggestions covering examination system reforms, NTA operational improvements, transparency measures, and data security enhancements. The parliamentary panel now wants a comprehensive account of actions taken on each individual recommendation, signalling a desire for accountability rather than vague assurances.
CBSE Faces Questions on OSM Tender Process
On the CBSE front, the committee has raised several technical and administrative queries regarding the OSM system. Specifically, members want to understand what modifications were made to the various tender documents (RFPs) issued for the OSM contract and the rationale behind those changes.
Sources indicate the panel has also questioned whether CBSE conducted due diligence on COEMPT EduTeck before awarding the contract. The committee is particularly interested in whether the board was aware that the company or its directors had previous associations with Globarena Technologies, a firm that surfaced during investigations into the 2019 Telangana intermediate results controversy.
Changes to Eligibility Criteria Questioned
Several modifications to the tender requirements have drawn the committee’s attention. Members have asked why the third RFP removed a clause that would have disqualified companies with poor performance records. Similarly, they have sought explanations for alterations to provisions that previously excluded blacklisted firms from bidding, as well as the introduction of a minimum turnover requirement of 50 crore rupees.
Technical specifications have also come under scrutiny. The committee has requested justifications for removing the mandatory use of robotic scanners, changing conditions related to answer sheet scanning, reducing the minimum scanning resolution from 300 DPI to 200 DPI, and adjusting eligibility criteria regarding experience with large-scale projects.
Pending Documentation and Oversight Concerns
Sources reveal that the committee had previously requested documents related to OSM tenders issued in February, May, and August 2025, but CBSE has yet to provide them. The panel has also asked for reports from observers appointed during OSM dry runs and details of any actions taken based on their findings.
The timeline for compliance has been set: CBSE must submit its written responses by June 8, while the NTA has until June 10 to provide its answers. As of now, neither institution has issued an official statement regarding the committee’s queries.
These developments reflect growing parliamentary oversight of examination processes that affect millions of students annually. The committee’s detailed questions suggest a determination to move beyond surface-level explanations and establish concrete accountability for any systemic failures. The responses submitted by the NTA and CBSE will likely inform further proceedings and potential recommendations for reform.
