'Students Deserve Answers': Digvijaya Singh seeks white paper on NTA exam leaks

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Government of India to issue a white paper on paper leaks and irregularities in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the last eight years. In the letter dated June 4, Singh said the move would help bring greater transparency to the handling of examination-related irregularities and also restore confidence among students.

He asked for detailed information on investigations, arrests, charge sheets, closure reports as well as the present status of accused linked to examination paper leak cases. He believes that this would calm down thousands of students who are seeking clarity on how past cases of examination irregularities had been investigated and prosecuted.

Singh highlights that currently there is no consolidated public record detailing instances of paper leaks and exam-related irregularities. The letter reads, "Amidst the absence of official information, there are plenty of reports and rumours that have taken their place." To address this, he proposed that the Centre should publish a white paper documenting all major cases related to NTA-conducted examinations.

The data should have a list of paper leak incidents and other examination irregularities, action taken by the NTA and investigative agencies, and information on arrests made in connection with such cases. He wrote in the letter that the proposed white paper should also explain the reasons behind any closure reports and provide an update on the present status of accused individuals, including whether they are on bail, facing trial or have been convicted.

Transparency to restore confidence

In the letter, Singh argued that transparency regarding the handling of examination irregularities would serve as an important confidence-building measure for students.

The letter reads, "One repeated complaint I have received is that the main accused in the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak in Hazaribagh, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar alias Mukhiya, is reportedly out on bail. Similarly, the CBI has reportedly filed a closure report stating that no irregularities occurred in the UGC-NET exam of 2024 which had been cancelled by the NTA back then. When asked by a Delhi court to provide a written explanation for its closure report, the CBI has asked for more time. The CBI's delay in providing its explanation has similarly sent out a negative message among India's students."

To inspire renewed confidence in the administration's ability and willingness to deliver justice to India's students, he propose that the Government of India should issue a white paper that documents-

• The list of instances of paper leaks and/or irregularities which have occurred in NTA-conducted examinations in the last eight years
• The action taken by the NTA and the investigative agencies, including who was arrested by them, for each of these examinations.
• The status of each investigation: whether it is ongoing or has been completed, and if a chargesheet or closure report has been filed by the investigative agency
• Reasons why a closure report may have been filed.
• A status report of each of the accused and their present status (trial ongoing, on bail, convicted, etc.).

“At a time when lakhs of students are under heavy pressure, it is critical that we reinforce their faith in the system,” he wrote. “To inspire renewed confidence in the administration's ability and willingness to deliver justice to India's students, I therefore propose that the Government of India issue a white paper,” the letter states.