New Delhi: A parliamentary standing committee has raised questions over the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), arguing that its multiple-choice questions format is not an adequate measure for social science-related fields and may hinder institutions such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) from ensuring socio-economic and regional diversity in admissions. In a report submitted to Rajya Sabha chairman on Tuesday (June 16), the committee on education, women, children, youth and sports said the format was “ill-suited for humanities and social sciences disciplines which are definitionally centred on independent, subjective thinking,” reported Times of India.The current document is a follow-up on the recommendations made by the committee in its 364th report on demands for grants, 2025-26, which dealt with the Department of High Education. The committee, headed by Congress MP Digvijay Singh, noted that the test was implemented in the 2022-23 academic year with an aim to reduce pressure on students and universities alike and to place candidates graduating from different boards on an equal footing. However, the MCQ-based format posed concerns in this regard. The panel called for a review of both the quality of the CUET question papers and the design of the exam in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.JNU’s diversity mandate at risk, report warnsAccording to TOI, the 381st action taken report acknowledged that even though CUET as a centralised test for undergraduate students has some advantages, it also inhibits institutions like JNU from meeting their academic and legislative mandates. “The JNU system of test administration was designed to ensure that the university was able to fulfil the criterion of socio-economic and regional diversity and representation mandated by the JNU Act in its admissions,” the report said. The panel intends to deliberate further on the issue.In its response in the action taken note, the government said CUET offers a single application window, allowing a student to sit for one exam that can be considered by multiple universities. It also stated that lessons from the first three editions of the exam had been integrated into the latest session, which offered 37 subjects instead of the earlier 63 subjects. Results in 2025 were also announced three weeks earlier than in 2024, which the government claims is evidence of the exam logistics improving.Delayed promotions at universitiesThe report also flagged delays in faculty promotions at JNU. The committee said around 30 members who were eligible for professorship continued to remain assistant professors and about 50 eligible for a promotion to professor remain associate professors. Additionally, another 30 faculty members eligible for associate professorship have not yet been promoted from the assistant professor level.The government said efforts were being made to advance pending Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) cases. However, the committee noted that the response only addressed general procedures, while disregarding the particular issue raised pertaining to JNU. It reiterated its recommendation that the department “take expeditious action so that a qualified and deserving candidate gets their promotion on time,” as per the TOI report.The panel also emphasised disputes over faculty recruitment and promotions at Delhi University’s St. Stephen’s College. It said basic processes such as these had been stalled since 2022, even as more than 30 faculty vacancies existed. Recommending that litigation on the matter be resolved at the earliest, the committee suggested that all centrally funded institutions should submit annual admissions reports on the gender, caste, ethnic, rural-urban and class makeup of the student body, reported TOI.Historically significant institutions need targeted support, panel saysThe committee also insisted on an assessment of India’s oldest public universities, suggesting a targeted programme to support historically significant institutions, either through an extension of the Institute of Eminence scheme – a 2017 initiative to empower 20 higher education institutions to become world-renowned research facilities – or through a distinct mechanism. According to TOI, the universities mentioned by the panel included DU, Allahabad University, Calcutta University, Bombay University, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University and Madras University.The government pointed out that DU and Banaras Hindu University had already been granted Institute of Eminence status and that the topic of funding could be taken up in future review meetings. It also said it has “duly noted” the committee’s observations and alerted the University Grants Commission and the National Testing Agency of the same.