New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday accused the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union education ministry of serious administrative failures, citing a parliamentary committee report that highlighted staff shortages, dependence on private contractors and inadequate safeguards against examination irregularities.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh urged the Narendra Modi government to act on the findings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik.
Ramesh alleged that the ministry had made a false claim before the committee that no paper leak had occurred in an NTA-conducted examination since the agency’s establishment in 2017.
He claimed that nine instances of paper leaks and examination irregularities had been reported between 2017 and 2025.
The Congress leader said the NTA, registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, lacked adequate statutory accountability and parliamentary oversight.
Citing the report, he said only 23 of the agency’s 39 sanctioned posts were occupied, leaving 41 per cent vacant. He said the NTA depended heavily on private contractors for examination-related work.
Ramesh pointed out that permanent positions were filled through deputation, with officers serving for two to three years, affecting the development of institutional expertise.
He also criticised the absence of a nationwide blacklist of companies involved in examination-related irregularities, alleging that firms blacklisted in one state could secure contracts elsewhere.
The Congress leader raised concerns over the lack of publicly accessible NEET-UG results and examination centre-wise data, saying these shortcomings made it difficult to identify suspicious performance patterns.
He criticised the practice of giving additional charge of the NTA director general’s post to officers holding other responsibilities, particularly during the period of examination controversies.
Ramesh also questioned the agency’s financial priorities, pointing to a cumulative revenue surplus of Rs 590 crore, which had been invested in fixed deposits.
The parliamentary committee has recommended a legislative framework to make the NTA accountable to both Houses of Parliament. It also called for strengthening examination infrastructure, reducing dependence on private contractors and improving transparency.
The report noted that the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 following allegations of a question paper leak underscored the need for stronger safeguards.
Ramesh urged the government to act on the recommendations without political considerations, saying the credibility of national entrance examinations was at stake
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