Parliamentary panel examines NEET UG conduct, asks NTA to submit report on regulatory framework

A parliamentary panel on Thursday discussed the functional proficiency of regulatory institutions under the Health Ministry in connection with the conduct of the NEET-UG examination by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Representatives of the NTA and domain experts gave their presentation before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare headed by Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav. Sources said the committee heard the views on the conduct of NEET-UG exam and suggested steps to improve upon the functioning of the NTA. The panel has asked the authorities concerned to submit the report in writing too, the sources added.

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The NEET row has already been discussed by two other parliamentary panels, which had summoned top officials of the Health and Higher Education ministries, besides officials of the NTA, National Medical Commission (NMC) and the CBI which is probing the NEET paper leak case. The Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare also discussed in detail the issue of affordability and accessibility of healthcare facilities in public and private sectors during the meeting.

A power point presentation on 'One Nation - One Entrance Test', SmartInsta Test-AI (SITAI) by Balaveera Reddy, a former chairman, Board of Governors, National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal and former vice chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Karnataka, was also made during the meeting. Oral evidence of the secretary, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), chairpersons of the Quality Council of India (QCI) and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH), besides the DCGI, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCО) was also heard during the meeting on the issue of 'Affordability and Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities in Public and Private Sector'.

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The issue of organizational structure, mandate and functional proficiency of regulatory institutions pertaining to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the issue of conduct of NEET examinations under NMC Act, 2019 were also taken up, and experts as well as NTA officials gave their views in detail. The Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports and the Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances have already held discussions on the issue. The committee on health is the third panel which looked into the contentious issue.

The parliamentary panels have already summoned Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi and NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, besides NMC chairperson and discussed with them ways and means of strengthening the NTA to help check any paper leaks in the prestigious medical entrance examination. The NEET-UG exam originally conducted on May 3 was cancelled by the government following allegations of paper leak and was re-conducted on June 21.