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

The Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by senior Congress leader Mr. Singh, had convened a meeting on issues concerning the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test- Undergraduate (NEET-UG) examination and the functioning of the NTA. It also weighed in on the merits of “pen-and-paper testing” versus “computer-based tests”. The agency has come under scrutiny following allegations of paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.

According to the official notice, representatives of the UDF were listed among the witnesses for the meeting. However, when they were to be called, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh objected. According to sources, he argued that the UDF’s position on the issue was well known and that they were not neutral witnesses. The UDF has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking to replace the NTA with an independent testing authority with direct parliamentary oversight, strong anti-leak mechanisms, and comprehensive audits.

Other BJP members also supported Mr. Singh’s position, contending that the issue must not be politicised. Some of them also questioned the timing of holding these deliberations. Following this, the waiting UDF representatives were informed by Mr. Singh that they could not be part of the discussion.

Lakshya Mittal, chairperson of the UDF, told reporters that the body had submitted the names of its representatives and also a memorandum of demands a week in advance. “NTA should be dissolved and a new examination body should be created through an Act of Parliament. Such a body should be made accountable to Parliament. Currently, NTA is neither accountable nor does it have adequate auditing mechanisms,” Dr. Mittal said.

Mr. Singh declined to share details of the meeting, citing rules that prohibit disclosure of discussions until the report is presented in Parliament. On the issue of the paper leak, however, he reiterated the Congress’s demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “The PM is so miffed with the failures of Dharmendra Pradhan that he has taken up all the responsibilities 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 Solicitor General had informed the Supreme Court that the Prime Minister was personally monitoring the NEET re-examination. While, for the sake of the students, one must hope the exam will be conducted successfully, Mr. Ramesh said it was difficult for any reasonable person to have faith in the “Pradhan Mantri and his ‘system’.” “This ‘system’ botched up the investigation into the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak. This ‘system’ continues to deny that the NEET-UG 2026 paper was leaked, when the truth is evident to all. This ‘system’ has not only wrecked the administration of exams in higher education, but has done so in the CBSE as well,” he said.

The Opposition Congress in Rajasthan on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) asked why the State police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) had not registered a first information report in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case despite the detention of about 15 individuals for questioning. The SOG has been probing into the matter for five days to trace a suspected network.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe following the Centre’s direction, registered a case on Tuesday. While the examination has been cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the CBI is expected to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations of a paper leak.

The Congress leaders said here that the Bharatiya Janata Party government had tried to suppress the matter for several days instead of finding out the truth. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the “true face” of the BJP government had been exposed after the entrance exam’s cancellation, indicating large-scale malpractices.

“It is incomprehensible why the SOG did not register a criminal case in the matter. The paper leak has left our youngsters very distressed… It is a big challenge. Were the SOG officers under instructions not to reveal the details?” Mr. Gehlot said while talking to journalists at his residence.

Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully alleged that the NEET-UG cancellation was proof of “organised irregularities” in the conduct of the test. He said the State government had put the future of students at stake by hiding the matter out of fear of disrepute and in an attempt to project its clean image.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra said the exam’s cancellation had exposed the “collusion” between the BJP government and the paper leak mafia. “Instances of influential BJP leaders having links with the mafia are coming to light. The nation expects that the CBI will conduct an impartial investigation and ensure the harshest possible punishment for the guilty,” Mr. Dotasra said.