Court says exam authorities should be allowed to conduct the re-test without additional pressure amid ongoing reforms
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea seeking to conduct the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format, effectively allowing the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre to proceed with the June 21 re-test in the existing pen-and-paper mode.
A bench hearing the matter observed that similar petitions had already been dismissed and indicated that broader concerns regarding the examination process would be considered later along with other pending cases.
Court declines immediate intervention
The petition, filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, sought urgent directions for transitioning NEET-UG from the traditional pen-and-paper format to a more secure computer-based examination system. The plea also requested implementation of key recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, including encrypted digital transmission of question papers and local printing shortly before the examination to minimise the risk of leaks.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Satyam Singh Rajpoot argued that conducting the examination online would significantly enhance security and reduce vulnerabilities associated with physical question paper distribution.
However, Justice P.S. Narasimha declined to grant any immediate relief.
“We have dismissed similar petitions. We will keep it pending and hear it after vacations with other pending petitions,” the bench observed.
The court also acknowledged the logistical challenges currently facing the authorities following the cancellation of the earlier examination and the need to conduct a fresh test within a limited timeframe.
Re-NEET to be held on June 21
With the court refusing to alter the examination format at this stage, the re-NEET examination scheduled for June 21 will continue in offline mode.
The NTA has historically conducted NEET-UG as a pen-and-paper examination. Although the 2024 paper leak controversy triggered demands for a shift to an online format, the agency has not yet implemented such changes.
Push for online exams continues
Following allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, several education experts and stakeholders have advocated for computer-based examinations conducted in multiple phases to improve security and transparency.
The petition highlighted recommendations that question papers should be digitally transmitted through encrypted channels and printed locally 30 to 60 minutes before the examination, thereby reducing the risk associated with transportation and storage.
Government signals future transition
Earlier this year, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan indicated that the government is working towards shifting NEET-UG to an online format in future examination cycles.
However, no such transition has been announced for the upcoming re-test.
The Supreme Court has now tagged the matter with other pending petitions related to NEET and is expected to hear them after the court’s summer vacation, with the next hearing scheduled for July 27.
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