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Parliamentary panel assured of glitch-free NEET retest on June 21

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A parliamentary panel reviewed proposals for computer-based testing for the NEET medical entrance exam and discussed alleged paper leaks.
  • Officials assured the panel that the June 21 retest would be conducted smoothly without glitches.
  • The National Testing Agency presented pros and cons of pen-and-paper versus computer-based testing, citing security and accessibility concerns for both.

A parliamentary committee examining the National Testing Agency (NTA) received assurances that the upcoming NEET-UG retest on June 21 will proceed without issues. Officials briefed the panel on Monday regarding the alleged paper leak in the 2026 medical entrance examination and discussed the potential shift from pen-and-paper to computer-based testing (CBT) from next year.

The 31-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports met with officials from the NTA, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health. During the meeting, NTA officials presented a comparative analysis of the two testing formats. They highlighted the accessibility of pen-and-paper tests across India, allowing simultaneous examination without score normalization. However, they also acknowledged vulnerabilities related to printing, transportation, storage, and the potential for physical malpractice.

It is unfortunate that an organisation representing the concerns of young doctors and medical aspirants across the country was not given an opportunity to present its views before the Committee despite being formally invited.

— Dr Lakshya MittalChairperson of the United Doctors Front, expressing disappointment at not being allowed to present before the parliamentary panel.

Regarding CBT, officials noted its advantages in eliminating the physical paper supply chain, enabling encrypted question paper delivery, faster result processing, and supporting advanced assessment formats. Concerns were raised, however, about potential technical failures, cybersecurity risks, and the need for score normalization across multiple shifts.

The panel was also briefed on the ongoing CBI investigation into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. NTA officials reiterated their commitment to implementing extensive safeguards for the June 21 re-test, which will be conducted in the pen-and-paper format. Meanwhile, the United Doctors Front, an organization invited to the meeting, expressed disappointment that its representatives were not permitted to present their views, although their memorandum was accepted.

The Standing Committee on Education has given no clean chit

— Jairam RameshDismissing media reports that the panel had endorsed the government's handling of the NEET controversy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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