Parliamentary panel to review NEET-UG 2026 re-exam, NTA reforms on July 1

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will meet on July 1 to review the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination and assess measures being implemented to strengthen the security and credibility of India's national entrance examination system.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have been asked to brief the panel on the conduct of the June 21 NEET-UG re-exam, which was held after the original May 3 examination was canceled following an alleged paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is continuing its probe into the case.

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Radhakrishnan, who heads the high-level committee overseeing reforms at the NTA, is also scheduled to appear before the committee.

He is expected to provide an update on the implementation of recommendations made after the 2024 NEET controversy, focusing on steps to improve the transparency, security, and reliability of national entrance examinations.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh will present the outcomes and key findings from the June 21 re-examination, while Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi will also attend the meeting.

Lawmakers are expected to examine the conduct of the re-examination and evaluate whether additional safeguards are needed before future nationwide entrance tests.

The meeting comes amid continued parliamentary scrutiny of the NTA's functioning. In May, the committee reviewed progress on implementing the Radhakrishnan Committee's recommendations and sought updates on the investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak.

Members had also raised concerns over delays in carrying out several reforms that had already received approval in principle.

In addition to discussing NEET, the committee's agenda includes examining the growing role of artificial intelligence in education and exploring ways to improve student employability.

Experts from institutions including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Delhi School of Artificial Intelligence are expected to brief the panel. According to sources, former officials Arun C Mehta and TG Sitharam will also make presentations.

The session will be the first chaired by Mukul Wasnik following his appointment as head of the standing committee after the retirement of former chairman Digvijaya Singh from the Rajya Sabha earlier this month.