• Source:JND
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NEET-UG Paper Leak: Top National Testing Agency (NTA) officials on Thursday appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports amid outrage over the May 3 NEET-UG paper leak. MPs grilled NTA officials over the alleged lapses despite the panel's recommendations post the 2024 NEET paper leak case.

The officials' appearance before the panel came days after the Parliamentary body summoned top officials of the education ministry, including Education Secretary Vineet Joshi and the NTA officials, including Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi and Director General Abhishek Singh.

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The officials reportedly gave a detailed presentation on the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Report on reforms in the agency during the meeting.

'NEET-UG Paper Was Not Leaked Through NTA System'

News agency PTI, quoting sources, reported that the NTA director general told them that the NEET-UG paper was not leaked through their system, and the CBI is probing the matter, sources said. The sources said Singh told the panel that the papers were not leaked through their system. At this, several MPs asked him, then how did the paper get leaked, and what was the need to cancel the exam and hold a retest?

'70 Per Cent Of Short-Term Recommendations Of Radhakrishnan Report Implemented'

The sources said Singh gave a detailed presentation on the implementation of the steps recommended by the Radhakrishnan Report on NTA reforms and informed that around 70 per cent of the short-term measures suggested have already been implemented.

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The panel members questioned the testing agency officials on the steps taken by them to strengthen the exam system in order to prevent paper leaks in the future.

The NTA DG had no answer to this and instead said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into the matter. Some opposition MPs demanded that the probe report be presented before the panel, but some of their counterparts from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to this, saying the CBI is an independent body and it should be allowed to do its work.

'Staff Shortage In NTA'

The sources said the NTA informed the members of the committee that there is a staff shortage of around 25 per cent in the agency currently and steps are being taken systematically to fill up all such vacancies to plug any loophole.

The NTA officials told the members of the panel that steps are being taken to evolve a foolproof examination system and a comprehensive review is being conducted. They also said credible people should be involved in the paper setting and distribution system.

The NTA officials said holding the NEET through a computer-based testing (CBT) platform is being considered and future exams could be conducted through this mode. The MPs are learnt to have raised the issue of a shortage of staff and filling vacancies in the NTA to ensure that the agency functions efficiently and leakages are prevented.

(With PTI Inputs)


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