The Supreme Court has decided to monitor the Centre's efforts to revamp the NEET-UG medical entrance examination process. The court is seeking permanent institutional changes to stop paper leaks, rejecting temporary fixes. With 2.2 million students set for a potential computer-based test model next year, the government must now provide a clear plan to ensure exam integrity.
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The Supreme Court of India has stepped in to directly supervise the government’s efforts to fix structural flaws in the NEET-UG medical entrance examination. During the latest hearing, a bench led by Justice P S Narasimha expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government's past handling of paper leaks, labeling the approach as persistent ad hocism. The court made it clear that temporary solutions, such as using the Indian Air Force to transport question papers during a re-examination, are not enough to solve deep-rooted issues.
Government Plan for Examination Overhaul
In response to the court's concerns, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the government is preparing a comprehensive overhaul of the entire examination system. This plan is set to go beyond the initial recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was originally tasked with suggesting reforms for the National Testing Agency (NTA). The government is under pressure to move from temporary measures to a fully institutionalized system that can reliably handle the scale of India's largest medical entrance exam.
Shift to Computer-Based Testing
The move toward a computer-based test (CBT) model is at the center of the upcoming changes. With approximately 2.2 million students expected to appear for the exam next year, the transition to a digital format carries significant operational risks. Legal representatives for the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) have pressed the court and the NTA to release a clear blueprint of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for this new format.
This is vital because a shift to digital testing changes the risks from physical paper leaks to potential cybersecurity threats, software glitches, or infrastructure failures at testing centers. The court has directed the Centre and the NTA to file detailed affidavits explaining their strategy, including the specific role that premier institutions like the IITs will play in securing the process. The matter is now set for further hearing on August 3, 2026, marking the beginning of a year-long monitoring process by the court. For students and the education sector, the next few months will be critical as they wait to see how the NTA balances the need for security with the logistical demands of a massive digital examination.