NEET-UG series on paper leak: SC directs Centre, NTA to submit detailed affidavits on progress made in implementing reforms | Today’s news
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to file comprehensive affidavits on the progress made in implementing reforms following the NEET-UG paper leak.
A two-judge bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe observed that the affidavits must explain steps taken to implement reforms instead of merely relying on ad hoc measures, news agency PTI reported.
After hearing a number of petitions, including one filed by the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), the court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to outline measures taken by the government to increase transparency, implement the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee and adopt the IIT model in the examination system.
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What did the Supreme Court say?
Additionally, the Supreme Court directed the Center to provide details of the proposed board, expert-led units, stakeholder nominations and implementation of the High Performance Committee’s recommendations in 10 key areas, including digital infrastructure, security, research and development, transparency, governance and human resources. It also sought an update on the role and progress of the newly appointed additional Directors General for Security, Monitoring and Vigilance.
It also sought a report on the status of reforms at each stage of the examination cycle, including pre-examination, during the examination and post-examination.
Meanwhile, the center has also been asked to provide an update on the progress made in areas such as modes of testing with state and district authorities, multi-session examinations, examination centres, question paper handling, printing and transport.
The Supreme Court also sought details of the proposal to move to computer-based testing and data protection safeguards.
Justice Narasimha observed that the deployment of the Indian Air Force to ensure the safe transportation of question papers after the paper leak could be considered an ad hoc measure and could not be a permanent solution. The Center was asked to explain its proposal for technologies, including DigiYatra, for candidate verification. Noting that the Union government’s affidavit did not address these issues, the Supreme Court accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s assurance that a fresh affidavit would be filed.
Adjourning the hearing to Aug. 3, the court said, “We will watch this closely. We will ensure that institutionalization takes place. We will watch it throughout the year.”
Background of the case
The development comes as a batch of petitions seeking the dissolution of the NTA and an overhaul of the country’s entrance examination system in the wake of the NEET-UG 2026 exam leak, LiveLaw reported.
During a hearing in May, the court, after interacting with the expert committee set up by the Supreme Court in 2024 to recommend NEET reforms, directed the Union ministries to submit affidavits describing the measures being taken. The court ordered: “The affidavit must state the method by which the regulatory and supervisory authorities of the NEET examination can develop and preserve institutional memory to act on the experience, data and information they have gathered and processed in each examination cycle. The effort must be to ensure that the National Testing Agency has the means, physical and intellectual examination, to prevent incidents like those in 20264 or future occurrences.”
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NEET-UG paper leak series
The NEET-UG 2026 controversy erupted after allegations of a question paper leak led the NTA to cancel the exam, which was initially conducted on May 3. The cancellation affected more than 22 lakh candidates and prompted the Center to order a fresh examination and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the alleged leak. The incident sparked nationwide student protests and renewed scrutiny of the NTA’s examination and security mechanisms.
