Veteran Congress leader and Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Digvijaya Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a comprehensive white paper on paper leaks and irregularities in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), seeking accountability across both Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tenures. Singh, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, said the absence of consolidated public records on past cases has deepened uncertainty and mental stress among aspirants.

What Singh Has Demanded

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Digvijaya Singh sought specific data on who is conducting investigations into exam paper leaks, who the accused are, how many have been punished, how many have been granted bail, and how many cases have been withdrawn. He made clear that his demand cuts across party lines — covering leaks that occurred under both Congress and BJP administrations.

'Paper leaks have happened at multiple places, at the state government level as well as at the Central government level,' Singh said. 'I have asked information from the Prime Minister regarding paper leaks, irrespective of Congress or BJP regime.'

The Vyapam Shadow

Singh pointed to the Vyapam scam — the entrance examination, admission, and recruitment scandal in Madhya Pradesh that was exposed in 2013 — as a reference point for the long-standing pattern of exam fraud in India. He claimed that only half of the Vyapam scam was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with the remainder still under state jurisdiction where, he alleged, investigation has not even commenced.

'Even 20 years later, those guilty in the Vyapam case are still roaming free,' Singh claimed. The remark underscores a broader concern that accountability in high-profile exam fraud cases has remained elusive regardless of which party holds power.

Calls for Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation

Singh also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a separate controversy involving the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). He alleged that the Central government changed rules and parameters in CBSE and awarded a contract to a vendor under questionable circumstances.

'A 17-year-old teenager has clearly shown that the Central government changed the rules and parameters in CBSE and gave a contract to a vendor,' Singh said. He alleged the vendor — identified as Coempt Edu Teck — had previously caused discrepancies in Telangana and was awarded the contract while sidelining a larger firm like TCS.

Singh also alleged that the vendor's technical director is reportedly connected to Pradhan, though he added: 'I don't know how far this is true.' He further claimed the company had changed its name while retaining the same owner and directors.

CBSE Transfer and Government Response

The Central government recently transferred the CBSE Chairman and Secretary in connection with the on-screen marking controversy, a move that has drawn scrutiny over whether it constitutes accountability or damage control. The transfers come as pressure mounts on the education establishment over a series of examination-related controversies.

Broader Context

This comes amid sustained public anger over the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak controversy, which triggered nationwide protests and a Supreme Court hearing. Singh's demand for a cross-regime white paper signals an attempt to reframe the debate beyond the current NTA crisis and into a systemic accountability question that implicates successive governments. Whether the Centre responds to the white paper demand will be a key indicator of its willingness to own the full historical record on exam integrity.