Doctors’ body barred from Parliamentary panel meeting on NEET after BJP objections

The United Doctors Front (UDF), which has been demanding the closure of the National Testing Agency (NTA), was not allowed to testify before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education headed by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Monday, June 1, 2026, following protests by BJP MPs.

The Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by senior Congress leader Mr. Singh, held a meeting on issues related to the National Eligibility and Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) examination and functioning of NTA. At the same time, the advantages between “pen and paper testing” and “computer-based testing” were also evaluated. The institution came under scrutiny following allegations of paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET-UG exam.

According to the official announcement, UDF representatives were among the witnesses of the meeting. However, when they had to be summoned, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh objected. According to sources, he maintained that the UDF’s stance on the issue was well known and they were not impartial witnesses. UDF has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking to replace the NTA with an independent testing authority that offers direct parliamentary oversight, strong anti-leakage mechanisms and comprehensive inspections.

Other BJP members also supported Mr Singh’s stance, arguing that the issue should not be politicised. Some also questioned the timing of these talks. Following this, the waiting UDF representatives were informed by Mr. Singh that they could not be a part of the discussion.

UDF chief Lakshya Mittal told reporters that the institution had submitted the names of its representatives and also a memorandum of demands a week in advance. Dr. “NTA should be dissolved and a new review body should be created by an Act of Parliament. Such a body should be made accountable to Parliament. Currently, NTA is neither accountable nor has adequate oversight mechanisms,” Mittal said.

Mr Singh refused to share details of the meeting, citing rules banning disclosure of discussions until the report is tabled in Parliament. However, over the document leak, he reiterated the Congress’ demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “The Prime Minister was so disturbed by Dharmendra Pradhan’s failures that he took full responsibility himself,” Mr. Singh said.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also commented on the issue. In a post on X about the meeting, Mr. Ramesh wrote that the Attorney General had informed the Supreme Court that the Prime Minister was personally monitoring the NEET re-examination. While one must hope that the exam will be conducted successfully for the sake of the students, Mr. Ramesh said it is difficult for any reasonable person to believe in “Pradhan Mantri and its ‘system'”. “This ‘system’ has botched the investigation into the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak. This ‘system’ continues to deny that the NEET-UG 2026 paper has been leaked, even though the truth is obvious to all. This ‘system’ has not only ruined the administration of examinations in higher education but has done the same in CBSE,” he said.