House panel seeks curbs on rallies on exam days as part of NTA reforms

The district administrations should withhold permission for any rally, procession or public gathering on days of crucial competitive examinations to ensure smooth traffic and law-and-order arrangements are in place well in advance and no candidate is affected by external disturbances, a Parliamentary panel has recommended.

The recommendation was made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, headed by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, while presenting a report on "Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)" to the Rajya Sabha chairman on Friday.

The report follows a controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak and alleged administrative lapses in the NTA, which led to nationwide student protests and ultimately the resignation of then-education minister Dharmendra Pradhan "Public rallies, processions, or large gatherings on the day of examination can delay candidates and cause them to miss their reporting time.

The committe