NTA reforms: Parliamentary panel seeks ban on rallies on exam days
A parliamentary committee has also recommended allowing latecomers into test halls for the remaining time and moving paperwork outside exam hours.
What the parliamentary panel proposed
District administrations should withhold permission for public rallies, processions, and large gatherings on days when major competitive examinations are held, a parliamentary panel has recommended.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, submitted its report on "Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)" to the Rajya Sabha chairman.
To enforce the restriction, the committee suggested amending the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The objective is to prevent traffic snarls and law-and-order disruptions from causing candidates to miss their reporting times.
Currently, the NTA relies on advisories instructing candidates to plan ahead if public events are scheduled on exam days.
Relief for late candidates and reduced distractions
The report highlighted procedural issues that frequently penalise candidates for minor delays, leading to entry denials that waste months or years of preparation.
The committee recommended creating a system where late arrivals sign an undertaking recording their delay before entering the exam hall. These candidates would be permitted to write the exam only for the remaining time, with no extra time granted under any circumstances.
Additionally, the panel addressed interruptions caused by invigilators filling out paperwork during test hours. It proposed setting aside a separate 15-minute window either before or after the exam specifically for attendance checks, signing, and verification.
Background to the NTA review
The recommendations follow public scrutiny and nationwide protests over paper leak allegations and administrative lapses during recent competitive examinations, including NEET. The fallout previously prompted the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Proposed window for invigilation formalities | 15 minutes | Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports report |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports | The parliamentary panel that submitted the report on NTA reforms. |
| Mukul Wasnik | Rajya Sabha MP and head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. |
| National Testing Agency | The agency responsible for conducting competitive exams in India whose procedures are under review. |
