New Delhi, July 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Friday said it would closely monitor the Centre’s proposed reforms to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and measures to prevent future examination paper leaks, directing the Union government to file a detailed affidavit outlining its plans.
A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, hearing petitions seeking structural reforms in the conduct of the NEET-UG examination following the alleged 2026 paper leak, posted the matter for further hearing on July 27.
The court asked the Centre to submit a comprehensive roadmap covering institutional reforms within the NTA, the feasibility of shifting NEET to a computer-based testing (CBT) format, cybersecurity safeguards and enhanced examination security protocols.
Referring to the recommendations of the high-powered committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, the Bench sought details on the proposed structure of the NTA’s governing board, measures to improve transparency, stakeholder participation and the involvement of domain experts, including IITs, in strengthening the examination system.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the government would present a holistic picture of the reforms and place on record the entire examination process, from printing question papers to their delivery to candidates. He added that the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee had been fully accepted and the government was committed to addressing students’ concerns.
The Bench, however, observed that temporary measures could not become permanent solutions, remarking that “ad hocism” had long affected institutional functioning.
The court also sought details on how a digital examination system would be protected against cyber threats if NEET eventually transitions to CBT.
The hearing comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre had prepared a draft Bill proposing stricter penalties and stronger institutional accountability to curb examination paper leaks.
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