Parliamentary Panel Summons Education and CBSE Officials Over On-Screen Marking and NEET Controversy
A parliamentary standing committee has called senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to appear before it on June 2. The panel will review the on-screen marking system used in Class 12 board examinations and examine the difficulties students encountered after the results were announced. The meeting will also take up the implementation of the three-language formula in Classes 9 and 10.
The notice, issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, confirms that the committee — officially known as the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports — has summoned School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar and CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh for the scheduled meeting. Congress leader Digvijay Singh chairs the panel.
Review of On-Screen Marking System
The committee will evaluate how the on-screen marking system performed during the Class 12 examinations and assess the problems reported by students in the aftermath of result declarations. Recent grievances have centered on technical failures during the verification and re-evaluation processes, including payment gateway errors and difficulties accessing the CBSE portal. These issues triggered widespread frustration among students and parents, prompting the board to come under scrutiny.
The upcoming session aims to identify the root causes of these disruptions and explore corrective measures to streamline the evaluation process for future examination cycles.
Three-Language Formula in Class 9 Under Scrutiny
Another significant item on the agenda is the mandatory three-language policy set to take effect from July 1 for Class 9 students. Under this directive, students will be required to study at least two Indian languages, with provisions for a third language as per the new framework.
The board has clarified that until updated textbooks for the third language become available, students may use the 2026-27 edition of Class 6 books for their chosen language. This adjustment aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.
The three-language formula has drawn sharp opposition, particularly from Tamil Nadu. State authorities argue that the policy places an undue burden on non-Hindi-speaking regions and undermines regional linguistic identities. Tamil Nadu has long adhered to a two-language policy involving Tamil and English, and its government remains steadfast in resisting the central directive.
Separate Session Scheduled for June 1
Prior to the CBSE-focused meeting, the committee will convene on June 1 at 10 AM to review the government’s response to the demand for grants related to the Higher Education Department within the Ministry of Education.
At 11 AM the same day, the panel is slated to meet with the Secretaries of the Higher Education Department and the Ministry of Health, the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), representatives of the United Doctors Front, and Dr. Gulshan Garg, a former orthopedic surgeon with the Indian Air Force.
Discussions during this session will center on the differences between pen-and-paper examinations and computer-based testing, along with broader issues concerning the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the functioning of the NTA.
NEET-UG Cancellation Under Watch
The committee has already held a meeting on May 21 to examine the implementation of reforms within the NTA, the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper, and the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee.
The NEET-UG examination, conducted on May 3 for admission to medical courses, was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the matter, and a re-examination has been scheduled for June 21.
The parliamentary panel’s intensified oversight reflects growing concerns over the credibility of high-stakes national examinations and the administrative efficiency of the agencies responsible for conducting them.
