NEET-UG paper leak case: Supreme Court demands fresh NTA report on security reforms, CBT rollout and exam transparency

Supreme Court seeks detailed update on NEET-UG reforms

In a significant development in the NEET-UG paper leak case, the Supreme Court of India on Friday directed the Central Government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to submit a fresh and comprehensive affidavit outlining the progress made in implementing reforms to India’s medical entrance examination system.

The direction came during the hearing of petitions filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and other petitioners seeking structural reforms within the NTA following last year’s examination controversy.

A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe said the affidavit must clearly explain the steps taken to institutionalise reforms related to examination security, transparency, digital infrastructure, administration, human resources and the proposed transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

Centre assures stronger examination system

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the government was making extensive efforts to strengthen the country’s examination framework.

He informed the bench that a fresh affidavit addressing all concerns raised by the court would be filed before the next hearing.

Accepting the request for additional time, the bench emphasised that it would continue to closely monitor the implementation of the proposed reforms.

“We can’t let this go on like this,” the court observed while listing the matter for hearing next week.

Court stresses permanent institutional reforms

The Supreme Court noted that the High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted after the NEET-UG paper leak had already submitted its recommendations.

However, the bench observed that the government’s previous affidavit failed to adequately explain the extent to which those recommendations had actually been implemented.

Justice PS Narasimha underlined the need for long-term institutional mechanisms instead of temporary arrangements.

The court directed the Centre to provide details regarding the proposed governing board, expert-led committees, stakeholder representation and the framework through which the new institutional structures would function.

Detailed roadmap sought across all exam stages

The bench also sought a comprehensive status report on reforms covering all ten verticals identified by the High-Powered Committee, including:

• Digital infrastructure
• Examination security
• Transparency
• Research and development
• Administration
• Human resources
• Monitoring and vigilance

In addition, the court asked the Centre to explain the responsibilities and work completed by the newly appointed Additional Directors General responsible for security, monitoring and vigilance.

The judges also sought updates on reforms covering every phase of the examination process, including pre-examination planning, conduct of the examination and post-examination procedures.

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Questions over Air Force deployment and CBT rollout

During the hearing, Justice Narasimha questioned the continued reliance on emergency measures introduced after the paper leak.

Referring to the deployment of the Indian Air Force for transporting question papers, the judge observed that while such arrangements may have been necessary in extraordinary circumstances, they could not serve as a permanent solution.

The court also described the proposed shift to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) as one of the most critical reforms.

The Centre has been asked to submit a detailed roadmap explaining how CBT will be implemented, how examination data will be securely transferred and stored, and what safeguards will be adopted to prevent cyber threats or data leaks.

Digital security under judicial scrutiny

Highlighting the importance of secure examination systems, the bench stressed that protecting digital examination data is essential to maintaining the credibility of national entrance tests.

The court also sought an update on the proposal to integrate technologies such as DigiYatra for candidate verification, observing that the earlier affidavit did not adequately address the recommendation.

Reiterating its commitment to ensuring lasting reforms, the Supreme Court made it clear that it would continue supervising the implementation process.

The matter will now be heard again next week after the Centre files its revised affidavit detailing the progress made towards institutionalising reforms within the National Testing Agency.