NEET, NTA and CBT under scanner: Parliamentary panel to hold crucial meetings on exam reforms

The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports is scheduled to hold two significant meetings on June 1 and June 2 to deliberate on key issues concerning India’s examination system, including the future of pen-and-paper tests, computer-based examinations, the National Testing Agency (NTA), the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and the implementation of the three-language formula in schools.

According to the committee’s agenda, the June 1 meeting will focus on the use of traditional pen-and-paper examinations versus Computer-Based Testing (CBT) and examine issues related to NEET and the functioning of the National Testing Agency. The discussion comes amid continuing debates over the conduct of large-scale national entrance examinations and concerns raised by students, parents and education experts regarding transparency, accessibility and technical challenges associated with digital testing formats.

The parliamentary review gains importance as NEET remains one of India’s largest entrance examinations, determining admissions to undergraduate medical courses across the country. The NTA, which conducts several national-level entrance examinations, has faced increased scrutiny in recent years over examination management, paper leak allegations, technical disruptions and demands for stronger safeguards in the testing process.

The committee’s second meeting, scheduled for June 2, will review the implementation of On-Screen Marking (OSM) in Class 12 CBSE examinations. Members are expected to discuss issues faced by students in relation to the evaluation process and assess feedback regarding the effectiveness, accuracy and transparency of digital answer-sheet assessment mechanisms.

Another major item on the agenda is the implementation of the three-language formula in Classes 9 and 10. The discussion is expected to focus on the practical challenges faced by schools and students, regional language concerns and the broader objectives outlined under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The meetings come at a time when India’s education sector is undergoing significant reforms aimed at modernising examination systems, improving assessment methods and strengthening accountability in national testing mechanisms. Policymakers have increasingly emphasised the use of technology in examinations and evaluations, while students’ groups and education stakeholders have called for safeguards to ensure fairness and equal access.

The committee’s deliberations are expected to provide lawmakers with feedback on some of the most debated issues in India’s education system. Recommendations emerging from the discussions could play an important role in shaping future policy decisions related to entrance examinations, school assessments and language education.

The outcomes of the two meetings will be closely watched by students, educators, examination authorities and policymakers across the country as discussions on examination reforms continue.