‘Very traumatic’: Supreme Court emphasizes responsibility for ‘mistakes’ in NEET paper leak; asks NTA to learn from UPSC | Today’s news
The Supreme Court on Friday emphasized the need for accountability in case of NEET paper leak, noting that such incidents are “extremely traumatic” not only for students but also for their families, PTI reported.
“We should not let down our youth,” he told senators PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe while listening to pleas on the matter, including one seeking direction to replace or restructure the National Testing Agency (NTA) with a robust and autonomous body to conduct the entrance medical examination.
The bench noted that the NTA should learn from institutions like UPSC, which has been successfully conducting large-scale competitive exams without any paper leak cases, as reported by LiveLaw.
Read also | “Massive security reforms have been implemented after NEET paper leak”: NTA tells SC
“UPSC has never been a situation, you have to learn,” Justice Narasimha said, as reported by LiveLaw.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government is seriously concerned about the concerns of the youth and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the situation so that there are no loopholes.
“The real problem will not stop until there is real accountability,” the bench observed.
“It’s really very traumatic if something like this happens, not just for the students but for their families and everybody,” the bench said, adding: “They put so much emotion into it.”
Read also | NEET paper leak: Supreme Court quashes NTA, says no lessons learned
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that several new mechanisms have been put in place for the NEET-UG re-test scheduled for June 21. The court directed the Center to file an affidavit in the matter and list the case for hearing in the second week of July, PTI reported.
On May 12, NTA canceled the NEET-UG conducted on May 3 for medical admission following allegations of paper leak. The retrial is now scheduled for June 21.
The CBI is currently investigating the paper leak allegations.
It may be recalled that after allegations of NEET-UG paper leak surfaced in 2024, the Supreme Court refused to cancel the scrutiny but issued several directions aimed at preventing the paper leak and laid down criteria for cancellation of public examinations.
NEET Fee Refund: 13 Lakh Candidates Update Bank Details
NTA has extended the deadline for NEET-UG 2026 candidates to submit their bank account details for exam fee refund till June 22. The exam has been canceled and is set to be conducted again following allegations of a paper leak.
Announcing the re-examination of NEET-UG 2026 scheduled for June 21, the NTA clarified that no examination fee will be charged for the new test.
Read also | NEET 2026 paper leak: What we know so far about the CBI probe from the May 3 entrance test
The agency also said that the fees already paid by the candidates will be refunded.
Following its public notices issued on May 12 and May 22, the NTA has opened a facility on the NEET (UG)-2026 registration portal for candidates to enter their preferred bank account details for refund processing. The facility was originally available from May 22nd to May 26th (until 11:50 PM).
(With input from agencies)
(This is a developing story; check back later for updates)
