Parliamentary Panel Proposes Major NEET Reforms, Recommends Two-Stage Exam and Age Limits

NEW DELHI, Oct 11: A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended a comprehensive overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA), proposing major changes to medical entrance examinations, including NEET-UG, following the 2026 paper leak controversy and subsequent cancellation of the examination.

The committee has called for a stronger accountability framework, a shift from pen and paper examinations to computer based testing, reasonable age and attempt limits, and a possible two stage examination system to distinguish candidates applying for different medical courses.

The recommendations were detailed in a report examining the functioning of the NTA after the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of a question paper leak. The test had originally been conducted on May 3.

The panel stressed that the credibility of national entrance examinations extends beyond administrative performance, describing public confidence in the testing system as an issue linked to social justice and national integrity.

It recommended that the Education Department introduce an appropriate parliamentary mechanism to ensure that the NTA remains accountable to both Houses of Parliament.

The proposals aim to strengthen examination security, improve institutional capacity and reduce the possibility of organised networks exploiting weaknesses in the conduct of high-stakes tests.

Parliamentary oversight and institutional accountability

The committee acknowledged that the NTA had taken steps to improve its functioning but said the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 demonstrated the need for additional safeguards.

It observed that examination fraud networks could adapt quickly to changing security arrangements and exploit weaknesses in the system. Consequently, it called for stronger protocols, adequate staffing, improved digital infrastructure and clearly defined responsibilities at every level of examination management.

The panel also emphasised the importance of transparent communication between the agency and stakeholders, including students, parents, educational institutions and policymakers.

According to the report, restoring confidence would require officials throughout the examination chain, from senior management to examination-centre invigilators, to treat examination integrity as a core responsibility.

The committee’s recommendations indicate that institutional accountability should not be limited to investigating irregularities after they occur. Instead, the system should be designed to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Such an approach would require the NTA to strengthen internal monitoring, establish clear reporting procedures and ensure that responsibility for examination security is assigned and reviewed systematically.

Computer-based testing proposed

One of the major recommendations is to examine a shift from traditional pen-and-paper examinations to computer-based testing.

The committee also called for greater use of government-owned and government-operated examination centres, alongside reduced dependence on privately managed facilities.

The recommendation addresses concerns about the multiple stages involved in organising a national examination, including question paper preparation, printing, transportation, storage, distribution and supervision.

A computer-based system could reduce dependence on the physical handling of question papers. However, its effectiveness would depend on secure digital infrastructure, reliable systems, trained personnel and sufficient examination capacity across the country.

The panel therefore called for a concrete implementation plan to establish secure government-run computer-based testing centres.

A nationwide transition would require careful preparation, particularly because NEET-UG attracts candidates from different regions and educational backgrounds. Authorities would need to ensure that students in rural and remote areas have access to suitable facilities and are not disadvantaged by differences in digital familiarity or infrastructure.

The committee’s emphasis on government-operated centres also reflects its concern about reducing reliance on external vendors and strengthening direct institutional control over examination arrangements.

Any transition would need to address technical failures, power interruptions, connectivity issues and the availability of backup facilities so that candidates can take examinations under consistent conditions.

Age and attempt limits under consideration

The parliamentary panel has also asked the Centre to explore reasonable age limits and restrictions on the number of attempts permitted in major examinations, including NEET-UG.

The report noted that the existing NEET-UG framework does not impose an upper age limit or a cap on the number of attempts. It referred to cases involving candidates above the age of 70 as an example of the anomalies that can arise under the current arrangement.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of Education consult the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other relevant stakeholders before deciding whether such limits should be introduced. It suggested an exception for the UGC-NET examination.

The proposal is a recommendation for further consideration, rather than an announcement of an immediate change in eligibility rules.

Any decision would need to balance the need for a fair and manageable admissions process with the principle that eligible candidates should have a reasonable opportunity to pursue medical education.

Students preparing for future examinations should therefore continue to follow the eligibility conditions officially notified by the relevant authorities unless a formal policy change is announced.

Two-stage entrance examination suggested

Another significant proposal is to examine whether large entrance examinations could adopt a two-stage structure similar to the Civil Services Examination.

At present, NEET-UG serves as a common entrance examination for admissions to MBBS, BDS, nursing and AYUSH programmes, with more than 22 lakh candidates taking part, according to the committee’s report.

The panel suggested considering a common preliminary examination for different medical streams, followed by specialised main examinations for particular courses.

Under the proposed approach, candidates seeking admission to MBBS could be assessed through a course-specific stage, while applicants to nursing or AYUSH programmes could be evaluated separately according to the relevant requirements.

The committee believes this could reduce avoidable competition between candidates pursuing different career paths.

A two-stage model could also allow the testing system to better reflect the different academic requirements of individual programmes. However, implementing such a structure would require coordination among examination authorities, universities, regulators and institutions responsible for admissions.

The design would need to establish how candidates qualify for the second stage, how scores are calculated and how admissions are conducted without creating unnecessary confusion or additional costs for students.

The recommendation is intended to improve the examination structure, but the final format would depend on further examination by the NTA and the concerned authorities.

National question bank and expert verification

To reduce the risk of paper leaks, the committee recommended that the NTA develop a large, diverse and regularly updated national question bank.

The panel observed that repeated use of similar question sets, as well as the annual preparation of papers without a sufficiently broad pool of questions, could create vulnerabilities.

A comprehensive question bank would allow examination papers to be assembled from a wider range of questions, limiting advance knowledge of the final paper and reducing dependence on a small group of question setters.

The committee suggested involving qualified experts from reputed institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian Institutes of Management, in developing question banks and handling translation work where appropriate.

It also stressed the need to verify the credentials and professional backgrounds of experts before their appointment.

The proposed checks should identify potential conflicts of interest, including links with private coaching centres or situations in which an expert’s family members may be appearing for the examination.

The panel also recommended creating a national registry of blacklisted examination vendors. Such a registry could help authorities identify suppliers or service providers previously associated with serious violations and prevent them from repeatedly entering the examination process without appropriate scrutiny.

The committee further suggested that candidates arriving late at examination centres could be allowed to sit for the test after submitting an undertaking, indicating that examination procedures should also be reviewed for fairness and consistency.

NTA staffing shortage raises concerns

The committee identified a substantial staffing shortage within the NTA as another area requiring urgent attention.

According to the report, only 23 of the agency’s 39 sanctioned positions were occupied, leaving a vacancy rate of approximately 41 per cent. The existing positions were also being filled through deputation rather than a dedicated permanent workforce.

The panel recommended that the agency recruit its own permanent personnel, particularly specialists in psychometrics, examination security, digital infrastructure, data analytics and examination logistics.

It said senior officials appointed through the Central Staffing Scheme should supplement, rather than replace, a permanent workforce with specialised expertise.

A stable professional team could help the NTA develop institutional knowledge, improve long-term planning and respond more effectively to emerging examination-security risks.

The committee’s recommendations also point to the need for systematic training, standard operating procedures and stronger coordination between headquarters and examination centres.

Implementation will determine the impact

The proposed changes could significantly affect the way national entrance examinations are organised if the government and relevant authorities adopt them.

However, the recommendations do not automatically alter the existing examination system. Decisions on eligibility criteria, test formats, centre arrangements and admissions procedures will require official action and clear implementation timelines.

Students, meanwhile, need timely information about any changes to avoid uncertainty during preparation.

The panel’s broader message is that examination reform must address not only the technology used to conduct tests but also the people, institutions and procedures responsible for maintaining their credibility.

For millions of students competing for limited professional education seats, a reliable entrance examination system is essential to ensuring that admissions are determined by performance under fair conditions.

The next stage will depend on how the government responds to the committee’s proposals and whether the NTA can translate the recommendations into practical safeguards that strengthen security, transparency and public confidence.