NTA must publish ‘implementation roadmap’ for reforms recommended by HLCE: Parliament panel

The parliamentary standing committee on education has recommended that the National Testing Agency (NTA) “publish a time-bound implementation roadmap” for the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Education (HLCE) “at the earliest”. It adds that despite the ministry constituting an expert High-Powered Steering Committee headed by K Radhakrishnan to monitor the implementation of HLCE recommendations, irregularities in the exam process are still rampant.

The parliamentary panel has also questioned the government about failing to hold meetings of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) and delay in publication of the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) report. It did not accept the government’s replies on those issues.

The committee, headed by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, presented the report in the parliament today, June 16, 2026.

The panel also expressed concern that nearly eight years after the implementation of the Institute of Eminence scheme, the higher education department has been able to grant that status to only 12 of the 20 institutes that it has been mandated to notify.

Also read Student Suicides: NTF interim report flags impact of NEET, JEE-type exams on mental health

It also questions why the scheme has ignored globally-recognised institutions of the country excelling in social sciences, humanities and developmental studies, such as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

NTA reforms ‘implementation roadmap’

After problems with the NEET and UGC NET exams in 2024, the ministry of education

had constituted a HLCE to review the exam process and recommend measures, both for improving security protocols and structure and functioning of NTA.

The HLCE had submitted its report in October, 2024.

The HLCE had recommended reforming the national common entrance testing, including strengthening of NTA, institutional linkage with states, staggered exams, involvement of test indenting agencies and more. Further a High-Powered Steering Committee headed by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman ISRO was then constitued to monitor the implementation of recommendations of HLCE on NTA.

The panel noted, “However, despite these measures, the paper irregularities are still happening leading to the cancellation of the examinations thereby causing a lot of anxiety among students. The committee recommends the department to publish a time-bound implementation roadmap for the HLCE recommendations at the earliest.”

This year the NEET examination had to be cancelled following leaks. The examination is rescheduled for June 21.

Also read Re-NEET UG Admit Card 2026 LIVE: Centre restricts Telegram temporarily, NTA assures no paper leak

Fix timeline for AISHE

The last AISHE survey, which provides details on the higher education institutions in the country, was published with 2021-22 data.

The ministry informed the panel that data collection for AISHE 2022-23 and 2023-24 surveys has been completed and is under processing. Data collection for AISHE 2024-25 is also complete and data scrutiny is ongoing. These reports will be released together.

Expressing concern, the panel said, “Three years' reports still remain unpublished and are to be released together, which defeats the purpose of an annual survey.”

The committee reiterated the earlier recommendation and directed that student-level data collection be adopted at the earliest.

“It further recommends that the department should establish a fixed annual timeline for AISHE publication as any delay in access to data undermines evidence-based policymaking in higher education, particularly concerning SC/ST/OBC/EWS enrollment monitoring,” the report stated.

Also read Across universities, 4th year of NEP’s FYUP more about confusion than research or practical training

Detailed reply on CABE

On paper, the CABE is the highest advisory body for central and state governments in the field of education. It includes representatives from states as well as the union government.

The committee had earlier recommended that CABE meetings be held regularly. The last meeting of the body was held in 2019.

Stating that the response provided by the department lacked “specificity”, it has asked them to provide a “comprehensive” response to its recommendations.