A parliamentary panel has recommended building extensive question banks, preparing final question papers close to examination dates and engaging carefully vetted experts from premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs and AIIMS to prevent paper leaks and strengthen the integrity of examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, headed by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, submitted its report on 'Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency' to the Rajya Sabha chairman on Friday.
The report comes against the backdrop of controversies surrounding the NEET paper leak and administrative lapses in the NTA, which triggered nationwide student protests and intensified scrutiny of the agency's examination management and security procedures.
Question banks proposed
The committee identified investment in large, diverse and continuously updated question banks as one of the most effective long-term safeguards against examination paper leaks.
It observed that repeatedly using the same question sets or requiring examiners to prepare entirely new papers every year could expose the examination process to security risks.
"The repeated use of the same question sets or the practice of having examiners set new question papers every year can be a risk to the integrity of the examination process. The Committee, therefore, is of the view that the NTA should invest in building a large, diverse and continuously updated question bank, which can be drawn on to set papers without the advance knowledge of the question-setters," the report said.
The panel suggested that questions should be selected from these banks through secure digital systems, reducing the number of individuals who have prior knowledge of the final examination paper.
Finalise papers closer to exams
The committee also recommended taking advantage of the proposed transition of NEET-UG to computer-based testing (CBT) to minimise opportunities for question papers to be compromised during printing, storage and transportation.
The Centre has announced that NEET-UG will be conducted in computer-based mode from next year, replacing the existing pen-and-paper format.
"The Committee notes that in the CBT format, question papers no longer have to be printed and transported to the examination centres. Therefore, there is no compulsion to set question papers long in advance," the report stated.
It recommended that final question papers be prepared shortly before the examination, with questions selected digitally from the approved question bank and subsequently reviewed by subject experts.
The committee further called for strict quarantine and sequestering of experts responsible for the final vetting of question papers until the examination concludes, preventing unauthorised communication or disclosure of sensitive material.
Strict scrutiny of experts
The panel emphasised that the NTA should engage qualified and credible experts from the country's leading educational institutions for preparing question banks and translating examination material into different languages.
"The NTA must rely on bona fide experts from our most renowned educational institutions, including IITs, AIIMSs, IIMs, etc., to develop its question banks and for translation," the committee said.
However, it stressed that academic qualifications alone should not determine the selection of such experts.
The agency should establish a robust background verification mechanism to assess their professional records, integrity and potential conflicts of interest before assigning them sensitive examination-related responsibilities.
"The NTA must also develop a system to check the track record of the said experts to establish their integrity and to rule out any conflict of interest (e.g., owners or faculty of private coaching centres, family members giving the exam, etc.) before recruiting them," the report said.
The recommendations are intended to prevent individuals with commercial interests in coaching institutions or personal connections to examination candidates from gaining access to confidential examination material.
Digital accessibility concerns
While supporting the transition towards computer-based examinations, the committee cautioned that the shift must not disadvantage students from remote regions, economically weaker sections and marginalised communities.
It observed that disparities in access to computers, reliable internet connectivity and digital infrastructure could create additional challenges for candidates unfamiliar with computer-based examinations.
The panel consequently recommended that the transition be accompanied by a comprehensive national testing strategy aimed at maximising digital accessibility and ensuring equitable opportunities for all candidates.
The recommendations seek to address both examination security and fairness, with the committee emphasising that technological reforms must be supported by stronger institutional safeguards and measures to prevent students from being excluded because of inadequate digital access.
The report is expected to inform further discussions on strengthening the NTA's examination procedures, improving accountability and restoring public confidence in the conduct of major national entrance examinations.