The apex court seeks detailed affidavits from the Centre and NTA on long-term reforms, digital transition and measures to strengthen examination security
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to ensure that recurring lapses in the NEET-UG examination are brought to an end, while seeking a detailed roadmap on reforms, including plans to transition the examination completely to a computer-based format.
Hearing the matter, a Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe asked the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to file fresh affidavits detailing the progress made after the NEET-UG paper leak and the measures being taken to institutionalise long-term reforms.
The court made it clear that the examination system cannot continue to rely on temporary arrangements and stressed the need for structural changes instead of ad hoc solutions.
The apex court sought comprehensive details on the proposed governing board, expert-led units, stakeholder nominations and the implementation of the High-Powered Committee’s recommendations across 10 key areas, including digital infrastructure, security, research and development, transparency, administration and human resources.
It also asked the Centre to explain the role and progress of the newly appointed Additional Directors General overseeing security, monitoring and vigilance, besides submitting a status report covering reforms at every stage of the examination process—from pre-exam preparations to the conduct of the test and post-exam procedures.
The Bench further sought updates on discussions with state and district authorities regarding examination modalities, including multiple-session examinations, examination centres, question paper printing, transportation and overall logistics.
The Supreme Court also asked the Centre to explain the progress of its proposal to shift NEET to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), along with safeguards to ensure data protection and cybersecurity.
Justice Narasimha observed that deploying the Indian Air Force for the secure transportation of question papers after the paper leak was merely an interim measure and could not serve as a permanent solution.
The court also sought details on the proposed use of technologies such as DigiYatra for candidate verification. Noting that the Centre’s earlier affidavit had not adequately addressed several key concerns, the Bench accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta‘s assurance that a fresh affidavit would be filed.
“We will closely monitor it. We will ensure institutionalisation takes place. We will monitor it throughout the year,” the court said while listing the matter for hearing next Monday.
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