New Delhi, May 25: The Supreme Court has initiated scrutiny of the NEET-UG examination system, raising concerns over recurring issues of exam integrity and seeking accountability from authorities following allegations of a 2026 paper leak.
A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe issued notices to the Centre, the National Testing Agency and other concerned authorities on petitions demanding structural reforms, including a shift to a computer-based testing format. The court directed that responses be filed and scheduled the matter for further hearing on May 29.
During the proceedings, the Bench expressed concern that lessons from earlier controversies had not translated into systemic improvements. It noted that despite the fallout from the 2024 NEET-UG controversy and subsequent recommendations by a high-level committee, similar concerns have resurfaced, indicating unresolved vulnerabilities in the examination process.
The court asked the National Testing Agency to submit an affidavit detailing the current status of compliance with recommendations made by the monitoring committee constituted in November 2024. It also directed the committee’s chairperson, former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, to file a separate affidavit outlining steps taken to implement the panel’s recommendations and adhere to previous judicial directions.
The petitions, filed by organisations including the Federation of All India Medical Association and the United Doctors Front, seek wide-ranging reforms in the conduct of national-level examinations. One of the primary demands is an immediate transition to a fully computer-based testing system, with petitioners arguing that the existing pen-and-paper format remains susceptible to breaches during printing, transport and storage of question papers.
The plea contends that the continuation of the traditional examination format, despite prior recommendations, reflects a systemic gap in implementing reforms. It also points to the government’s earlier indication that NEET-UG would move to a computer-based model from 2027, describing it as an acknowledgement of the need for stronger technological safeguards.
Another petition challenges the institutional structure of the National Testing Agency, calling for its replacement with an independent and statutorily regulated examination authority with enhanced transparency, accountability and technological capacity. The plea further seeks judicial oversight in implementing reforms and calls for the introduction of encrypted digital systems, biometric verification and AI-based monitoring to strengthen examination security.
Additionally, the petitions request strict legal action against individuals allegedly involved in examination leaks and organised cheating networks. A status report from the Central Bureau of Investigation on the ongoing probe into the alleged 2026 NEET-UG paper leak has also been sought.
The controversy surrounding the 2026 examination, including allegations of circulation of “guess papers” prior to the test and its subsequent cancellation, has been cited as part of a broader pattern affecting national examinations. The court’s intervention now places the focus on institutional accountability and the urgency of systemic reform to restore public trust in high-stakes entrance tests.
