UDF Invited But Not Allowed To Participate In Crucial Parliamentary Panel Meeting On NEET Paper Leak

New Delhi: Representatives of the United Doctors Front (UDF) on Monday were not permitted to participate in the proceedings of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, despite receiving an official invitation from the Committee.

The meeting was called by committee chairman Digvijay Singh regarding the use of pen-and-paper testing versus CBT, and issues concerning NEET and the National Testing Agency after the 2026 NEET paper leak issue raised massive public outcry. A source aware of the development told ETV Bharat that a few BJP MPs opposed the presence of UDF representatives.

Acting on the formal invitation, UDF representatives travelled to Parliament to present the views of young doctors, medical students, and healthcare professionals regarding NEET, the National Testing Agency (NTA), and examination reforms.

“Upon arrival, UDF representatives were informed that they would not be allowed to participate in the Committee proceedings,” the sources said.

Talking to ETV Bharat, UDF chairperson Dr Lakshya Mittal said, “It is unfortunate that an organisation representing the concerns of young doctors and medical aspirants across the country was not given an opportunity to present its views before the Committee despite being formally invited. We respect the Parliamentary process and the authority of the Committee, but stakeholders who represent lakhs of students and healthcare professionals deserve to be heard, especially on matters concerning one of India’s most important national examinations.”

He said that UDF had earlier submitted its detailed written representation, supporting documents, and presentation material to the Committee in advance as requested.

However, during a personal interaction later, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee Singh conveyed his inability to facilitate UDF’s participation due to opposition from a majority of the Committee members.

UDF clarified that its concern is not directed against any individual but relates to the broader principle of stakeholder participation in policy discussions affecting medical education and national examinations.

In its representation submitted to the Committee, UDF raised several important issues concerning NEET and the National Testing Agency.

The United Doctors Front suggested that a statutory body, answerable to Parliament and subject to stronger public accountability, is essential for conducting high-stakes national examinations such as NEET.

The UDF also called for a strict inquiry into the possible misuse of the National Emblem by National Testing Agency (NTA), considering its registration as a society and the provisions of the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005.

The UDF has urged that competent authorities should examine whether the NTA's use of the emblem and official representation is legally authorised and compliant with applicable law.

In its submission, UDF stated that the concerns surrounding NEET are not limited only to the mode of examination but also relate to the larger issue of transparency, statutory accountability, confidentiality, and credibility of the examination-conducting body.

UDF recommended that the present structure of the National Testing Agency should be dissolved and replaced and a new national examination body should be constituted through an Act of Parliament.

Further, UDF submitted that the concerns relating to NEET-UG 2026 should not be treated in isolation. “The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak concerns should be investigated along with unresolved issues from NEET-UG 2024, including the special registration window, centre allotment patterns, grace marks issue, role of agencies and centres, and allegations of non-cooperation in earlier investigations,” said Dr Mittal.

The UDF has emphasised that repeated controversies surrounding NEET have severely affected the confidence of lakhs of medical aspirants and their families. The organisation urged for a comprehensive, time-bound, and transparent investigation into all institutional lapses, officials, agencies, vendors, centres, and persons responsible.

Dr Babita Sikriwal & Dr Rakesh Beniwal from UDF said that NEET is not merely an examination but the gateway to India’s medical education system. “Therefore, the process must be transparent, fair, secure, and accountable,” they said.

The UDF expressed hope that the Parliamentary Committee will consider the suggestions in the larger interest of students, medical education, and public trust.

The Parliamentary Committee meeting was also attended by Vineet Joshi, secretary in the department of Higher Education, Puniya Salila Srivastava, secretary in the department of Health and Family Welfare and Abhishek Singh-DG NTA. Monday’s meeting was the third in a series following the NEET paper leak issue.

Last week, another Parliamentary Committee of Rajya Sabha on Government Assurances reviewed the preparedness for the upcoming NEET-UG retest and the progress of the investigation into the paper leak case, with senior officials from the Union Education and Health Ministries, the National Testing Agency (NTA), National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appearing before the panel.

The committee, chaired by AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP Dr M Thambidurai, had summoned the officials in connection with assurances given by the government in Parliament regarding the conduct of examinations by the NTA.

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