EXAM DAY DISRUPTIONS FACE PROPOSED LEGAL BAN AS PARLIAMENTARY PANEL SEEKS FAIRER RULES FOR LATE ARRIVALS
October 11, 2026
A parliamentary standing committee has recommended stricter restrictions on public rallies and processions on days when major competitive examinations are conducted, while urging authorities to introduce a mechanism allowing genuinely late candidates to enter examination centres without receiving additional time. The recommendations form part of a broader effort to reform the National Testing Agency (NTA) following the NEET-UG paper-leak controversy and concerns over the security and administration of high-stakes examinations.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, submitted its report on reforms and strengthening the NTA to the Rajya Sabha Chairman on Friday. The report calls for amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, so that district administrations can withhold permission for rallies, processions and other public gatherings on examination days.
The panel observed that large gatherings can create traffic congestion and law-and-order problems, potentially preventing candidates from reaching examination centres on time. It recommended that district authorities make arrangements well in advance to ensure smooth traffic movement and prevent external disruptions from affecting students sitting for competitive examinations.
The committee noted that the NTA has so far issued advisories asking candidates to reach their examination centres early and make appropriate arrangements when public events are scheduled. However, it argued that advance warnings alone may not be sufficient to protect candidates from disruptions beyond their control.
The report also addressed the difficulties faced by students who arrive only a few minutes late. Under existing practices, candidates are often denied entry altogether, potentially destroying the value of months or even years of preparation because of a minor delay. The committee acknowledged that genuine circumstances can sometimes prevent candidates from reaching an examination centre within the prescribed reporting period.
To address this problem, the panel recommended a mechanism under which eligible latecomers could be admitted after signing an undertaking recording their late arrival. Such candidates would be allowed to sit for the examination only for the remaining duration, without any extension or additional time under any circumstances. The proposal seeks to distinguish genuine delays from attempts to obtain an unfair advantage.
The committee also highlighted concerns about examination-room procedures. It observed that invigilators sometimes conduct signing, verification and other administrative formalities during the examination itself, disturbing candidates who are already working under strict time constraints.
To minimise these interruptions, the panel recommended reserving a separate 15-minute window before or after the examination exclusively for such formalities. This would allow candidates to concentrate on answering questions without unnecessary administrative activity disrupting their attention.
The recommendations come against the backdrop of the NEET-UG paper-leak controversy, which raised serious questions about the NTA’s examination management and security arrangements. The controversy triggered nationwide student protests and led to the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, intensifying demands for institutional accountability and comprehensive examination reform.
The proposed measures seek to address two different but connected challenges: protecting candidates from disruptions outside examination centres and preventing genuine late arrivals from losing an entire examination attempt over a short delay. The panel’s proposals also aim to make examination administration more predictable by separating verification procedures from the time allotted for answering questions.
The recommendations are proposals rather than changes that have already become law. Their implementation will depend on the government’s response and any subsequent legislative or administrative action. If adopted, they could significantly affect how public gatherings are regulated on examination days and how testing agencies handle candidates who arrive after the scheduled reporting time.
