New Delhi, July 2 -- Members of Parliament on Wednesday proposed giving the National Testing Agency (NTA) statutory status through an Act of Parliament, saying the agency needs more powers, permanent staff and greater autonomy to conduct national entrance exams independently, people aware of the development said. The suggestion was made during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. NTA and education ministry officials briefed MPs on the conduct of the June 21 NEET-UG re-examination and the progress on reforms recommended by the high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan. According to people aware of the discussions, Radhakrishnan also supported the proposa...