Parliament panel to review NEET leak, CBSE evaluation process on June 1-2

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will hold meetings on June 1 and 2 to discuss the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, examination reforms, CBSE evaluation practices and the implementation of the three-language policy in schools.

On June 1, the committee has summoned the Secretary of Higher Education, the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and Gulshan Garg of the United Doctors Front. The panel will seek the NTA’s views on the NEET-UG paper leak issue and discuss examination-related matters, including reforms in the conduct of tests.

On June 2, the parliamentary panel will meet the Secretary of School Education and the Chairman of the CBSE. Members are expected to examine the utility of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system used in Class 12 CBSE examinations and discuss concerns faced by students because of the evaluation method. The committee will also review the implementation formula for the three-language policy in Classes 9 and 10 and seek clarifications on its rollout.

The meetings come amid heightened scrutiny of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Members of a parliamentary panel on May 29 stressed the need to protect the sanctity of the NEET-UG examination and plug loopholes in the system while reviewing the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), according to sources.

The Committee on Government Assurances, headed by AIADMK MP M Thambidurai, heard presentations from Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, CBI Director Praveen Sood, senior Health Ministry officials and the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

During the meeting, members questioned NTA officials about statements made in the Rajya Sabha in July 2024 regarding the conduct of NEET examinations and the investigation into alleged irregularities. The CBI is currently probing the leak of this year’s NEET-UG examination, which was cancelled and rescheduled for June 21. NTA officials are learnt to have briefed the committee on developments in the case. Members also emphasised that the MBBS seat matrix should remain undisturbed and counselling should proceed on schedule.

The Education Ministry had informed Parliament in July 2024 that the NEET-UG 2024 examination was conducted on May 5, 2024, and that several cases of alleged irregularities, cheating and malpractice were reported after the test.

The ministry subsequently referred the matter to the CBI for a comprehensive investigation and also constituted a seven-member high-level committee headed by former ISRO Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in examination processes, data security and the structure and functioning of the NTA. Parliamentary members have sought details on the implementation of the committee’s recommendations.

The Standing Committee had last week also sought an update from the NTA Director General on the NEET-UG paper leak probe and the steps being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Sources said the NTA chief informed members that the leak did not originate from the agency’s systems and that the CBI was investigating the source of the leaked question paper. The committee also discussed preparations for the transition of NEET-UG to a computer-based test from next year, including infrastructure, frequency and duration of examinations.

Committee Chairman Digvijaya Singh said the meeting was productive and that members were deeply concerned about the issues discussed. Sources said the panel reviewed the implementation status of the K. Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations on NTA reforms and was informed that about 75 per cent of the recommendations had been implemented. Officials also told the committee that the agency has around 25 per cent vacancies and that steps are being taken to strengthen the organisation through recruitment.

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

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With agency inputs.