A parliamentary panel, led by Digvijaya Singh, on Monday urged the National Testing Agency (NTA) to ensure timely Common University Entrance Test (CUET) results, preventing disruption to university admission cycles. The panel also directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to recognize the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) and called for the immediate implementation of a binary accreditation model by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
NTA Performance and Exam Reforms
The committee criticized NTA’s recent performance. It cited significant issues in 5 of 14 exams in 2024. These included the postponement of UGC NET, CSIR NET, and NEET PG. The NEET UG exam saw paper leak instances, and CUET results faced delays. During the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main in January 2025, NTA withdrew 12 questions due to answer key errors.
The panel recommended NTA swiftly improve operations to prevent future errors. It suggested NTA study leak-proof exam models from UPSC and CBSE. For computer-based tests, the committee recommended limiting exams to government or government-controlled centers. Private centers should not host these tests.
The panel also urged the Department of Higher Education to create a nationwide blacklist of firms involved in exam fraud. This would prevent tainted parties from securing future contracts. The committee noted NTA’s Rs 448 crore profit over six years. It suggested using these funds to build internal exam capabilities or strengthen vendor oversight. NTA should also produce a detailed annual report for Parliament. Additionally, the panel recommended NTA and the department align exam papers with school curriculum to counter the rise of coaching centers.
UGC Directives and Policy Evaluation
The panel expressed concern over resource challenges for the National Education Policy 2020’s Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). It noted UGC’s funding restrictions on higher education institutions’ (HEIs) capital projects contradict NEP goals. The committee recommended UGC allow institutions without NAAC A+ grade to offer distance learning courses. It argued NAAC ratings do not solely assess online education capability.
The panel specifically advocated for UGC recognition of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL). It described HIAL’s experiential learning model as exemplary and aligned with NEP 2020. This recognition has been pending for years. The committee also recommended UGC discuss draft regulations with the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE). CABE has not met since 2019.
Equity in Higher Education: New Regulations
The committee reviewed the draft UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations 2025. It urged its prompt finalization, noting delays until Supreme Court intervention. The panel made several recommendations for the draft:
- Explicitly include harassment of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the definition of caste-based harassment. This aligns with constitutional recognition of OBCs as Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs).
- Explicitly include disability as an axis of discrimination.
- Increase mandatory representation of women, SC, ST, and OBC members in the 10-member Equity Committee. This should reflect the 50% reservation policies.
- Ensure over half of the Equity Committee’s composition comes from SC, ST, and OBC communities.
- Include a comprehensive list of discriminatory practices within the regulations. This avoids discretionary interpretation by institutions.
The panel also recommended annual public disclosure of caste-based discrimination cases. It called for mandatory sensitisation programs, mental health support, and legal aid in all HEIs. Centrally-funded institutions should submit annual admissions reports detailing student demographics.
Staff Welfare and NAAC Accreditation Reforms
The panel recommended including teaching and non-teaching staff of UGC-funded institutions under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). It also suggested providing seed grants for research to newly-recruited faculty in UGC-funded institutions, matching provisions for technical institutions.
Regarding accreditation, the committee urged NAAC to immediately implement the binary accreditation model. This was initially due in July 2024 . This model aims for simpler processes, less bureaucracy, and reduced discretion. The committee further stated that with the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in place, NAAC’s grading of institutions becomes extraneous.
The panel noted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested 10 individuals, including NAAC inspectors, in February for bribery related to grades. This scandal led to a pause in accreditation. The committee recommended NAAC publish full details of its investigations and responsive measures. It also called for flexibility in assessing institutions in tribal and rural areas, acknowledging their distinct contexts from metropolitan centers. Since 2018-19, NAAC has accredited 8,853 institutions, comprising 496 universities and 8,357 colleges.