What constitutes a 'paper leak'? Parliament Panel asks NTA to reveal cases since 2018

A parliamentary panel has asked the NTA to clarify what constitutes a paper leak, explain its handling of the NEET-UG controversy, and outline reforms introduced afterward. The panel is also reviewing CBSE's OSM tender process over concerns related to exam integrity and procurement practices.

In Short

• Panel sought NTA's definition of paper leak for exams since 2018
• NTA officials reportedly said pre-exam NEET questions came from a guess paper
• Committee asked if NTA ran an internal probe beyond the CBI investigation

The spotlight is once again on the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a Parliamentary panel intensifies its scrutiny of the body's examination processes in the wake of the NEET-UG controversy.

In a significant move, the panel has asked the NTA to clearly define what constitutes a "paper leak" and disclose whether any such incidents have occurred in examinations conducted by it since its inception in 2018.

The demand comes amid growing concerns over examination integrity, transparency and accountability in India's competitive testing system.

The Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, is currently examining both the NEET paper leak allegations and concerns surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.

Following the appearance of NTA officials before the panel last week, the committee has now sought detailed written responses from both agencies.

WHAT DOES THE NTA CONSIDER A ‘PAPER LEAK’?

The Parliamentary panel has asked the NTA to explicitly define what constitutes a "paper leak" and disclose whether any such breaches have occurred in examinations conducted by the agency since 2018, according to sources cited by PTI.

The query follows claims made by NTA officials during their appearance before the committee, where they reportedly argued that there was no leak from the agency's systems.

Officials allegedly maintained that certain questions circulating before the NEET examination originated from a "guess paper" rather than an actual leaked question paper.

DID THE NTA CONDUCT ITS OWN PROBE INTO THE NEET-UG 2024 IRREGULARITIES?

The committee has also sought to know whether the NTA carried out any independent inquiry into allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, apart from the investigation currently being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The question is aimed at understanding the agency's internal response mechanisms and accountability measures following one of the country's biggest examination controversies.

WHAT DETAILS HAS THE PANEL SOUGHT ABOUT NTA’S FUNCTIONING?

In addition to the NEET-related questions, the panel has requested extensive information about the NTA's organisational structure and operations.

The agency has been asked to provide details of its staff strength over the past three years, fresh recruitments made since 2022, and copies of annual reports submitted to the Department of Higher Education during the same period.

The Parliamentary panel has demanded a comprehensive status report on all 101 recommendations made by the high-level expert committee headed by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan.

The committee was constituted by the Centre in June 2024 following the NEET controversy and was tasked with recommending reforms to ensure fair, transparent and secure examinations conducted by the NTA. Its mandate covered organisational restructuring, examination reforms and strengthening of data security protocols.

The panel has sought details of the action taken by the NTA on each recommendation.

WHEN MUST THE NTA AND CBSE RESPOND?

Sources indicate that the CBSE has been directed to submit its written responses by June 8, while the NTA has been given until June 10 to furnish its replies. Both organisations are yet to submit their responses.

WHY IS THE CBSE’S ON-SCREEN MARKING SYSTEM ALSO UNDER SCANNER?

Alongside the NTA inquiry, the Parliamentary panel is examining allegations surrounding the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.

The committee has questioned the Board about reported modifications made across multiple Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued for the OSM contract and whether due diligence was conducted before awarding the project to COEMPT EduTeck.

The panel has asked whether the CBSE was aware that COEMPT EduTeck and/or its directors were previously linked to Globarena Technologies.

Globarena's evaluation software had come under scrutiny during investigations into the 2019 Telangana Intermediate examination results controversy. The committee wants to know whether this history was considered while awarding the contract.

WHY IS THE CBSE'S OSM CONTRACT UNDER SCRUTINY?

The Parliamentary panel has sought explanations for several changes made to the OSM tender conditions, including the dilution of provisions related to poorly performing and previously blacklisted bidders, the ?50-crore turnover requirement, and changes in data centre eligibility norms. It is examining whether these modifications affected competition and transparency in the bidding process.

WHY ARE TECHNICAL AND DOCUMENTATION ISSUES RAISING CONCERNS?

The committee has also questioned changes to technical requirements, including the removal of the robotic scanner provision, the reduction of scanning resolution from 300 DPI to 200 DPI, and revised experience criteria for bidders. Additionally, it is awaiting documents related to OSM tenders issued in 2025 and has sought details on action taken following the OSM dry run and whether its findings were shared with the Ministry of Education.

A TEST OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR INDIA’S EXAMINATION SYSTEM

The Parliamentary panel's extensive questionnaire signals a deeper examination of how India's key examination bodies function and respond to allegations of irregularities.

From demanding a clear definition of "paper leak" from the NTA to scrutinising changes in CBSE's evaluation infrastructure contracts, the committee appears determined to establish whether systemic weaknesses, procedural lapses or governance failures contributed to recent controversies.

The responses submitted by both agencies in the coming days could play a crucial role in shaping future reforms aimed at restoring public confidence in the country's examination ecosystem.

- Ends