The Supreme Court has underscored the need for comprehensive structural, administrative and technological reforms in the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG), stressing that the examination ecosystem must move beyond ad hoc measures and adopt permanent institutional safeguards to preserve the integrity, transparency and credibility of one of the country’s largest high-stakes competitive examinations.
While hearing a batch of petitions led by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), the Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe observed that the authorities must break the recurring cycle of examination failures and institutionalise long-term governance mechanisms instead of relying on temporary arrangements.
The Court asked the Union Government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to place on record the progress made in implementing systemic reforms and directed them to file detailed affidavits addressing the recommendations of the high-level Dr K. Radhakrishnan Committee.
The Bench suggested that the Centre evaluate transitioning NEET-UG from the existing paper-and-pen mode to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) model on the lines of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), including examining the feasibility of conducting the examination in multiple sessions. Referring to the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations, the Court also sought the government’s response to the proposed hybrid examination model under which encrypted digital question papers would be transmitted electronically to examination centres and printed locally only 30 to 60 minutes before the commencement of the examination, thereby eliminating physical transportation and substantially reducing the possibility of question paper leaks.
The Court observed that in any transition to a digital examination framework, cybersecurity architecture, secure data transmission protocols and data protection would assume greater significance than physical security at examination centres. It emphasised that end-to-end encryption of question papers until their authorised decryption and printing, secure transfer of candidate data, digital locking of examination material, network security, vulnerability assessment, access control mechanisms and robust cyber defence protocols must form the backbone of the proposed CBT ecosystem. The Bench cautioned that digitisation without adequate encryption and information security safeguards could itself create fresh vulnerabilities capable of compromising examination integrity.
Expressing concern over recurring administrative lapses, Justice Narasimha observed that adhocism had troubled the examination system for years. Referring to the proposed restructuring of the NTA, the Bench sought specific updates on the establishment and operationalisation of ten permanent institutional verticals dealing with digital infrastructure, testing, research and development, transparency, international collaboration, security, monitoring, vigilance, administration and human resources, finance and legal affairs. While noting that appointments had reportedly been made in several technical and security-related verticals, the Court directed the Union to clarify the status of the remaining administrative, financial and legal divisions.
The Bench further directed the Centre to explain the progress made in strengthening the entire examination lifecycle, including pre-examination, examination-day and post-examination protocols. It sought details regarding testing modalities, the constitution and functioning of State and district-level examination authorities, the role of district administrations, printing and distribution protocols, recruitment of domain experts, post-examination audit mechanisms and measures undertaken to institutionalise accountability across every stage of the examination process.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought a short accommodation to file a comprehensive affidavit, submitting that significant policy developments were underway and that the executive was considering reforms extending beyond the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee. He informed the Court that the committee’s recommendations had been accepted and that the government was preparing a holistic framework covering every stage of the examination process, from printing of question papers to their delivery to candidates. He assured the Bench that the issue was being monitored at the highest executive level and that the government was adopting a non-adversarial approach considering the interests of over 22.7 lakh NEET-UG aspirants.
Justice Narasimha observed that the deployment of the Indian Air Force for transporting question papers following the recent paper leak allegations was merely a temporary contingency measure and could not substitute a permanent institutional framework governing printing, logistics, transportation, storage and security of confidential examination material. The Court reiterated that the objective was complete institutionalisation of examination governance rather than reliance on emergency responses.
The Bench also directed the government to explain the proposed implementation of secure identity verification systems, including DigiYatra-based candidate authentication, and to place on record the operational framework governing biometric verification, privacy safeguards, data protection compliance and the technological architecture proposed for secure candidate verification. It further sought details regarding computer-assisted examination management and post-examination safeguards intended to ensure traceability, auditability and long-term examination integrity.
The proceedings arise from a writ petition filed by FAIMA following the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3, which was annulled on May 12 amid allegations of a widespread paper leak. The alleged malpractice is presently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Earlier, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the Union Government, the NTA and the CBI on petitions seeking restructuring or replacement of the examination agency after observing that the NTA appeared not to have learnt lessons from previous examination irregularities.
The petitions seek restructuring or replacement of the NTA with an independent, autonomous and accountable statutory examination authority, besides the constitution of a high-powered monitoring committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and comprising cybersecurity and forensic science experts to supervise future examinations until a new institutional framework is established. Other prayers include digital locking of question papers, transition to a CBT framework, publication of centre-wise results to facilitate forensic analysis of anomalies, enhanced parliamentary and institutional oversight, and adoption of technology-driven safeguards to eliminate future paper leaks.
The Court has previously directed the Union Ministry of Education to develop robust institutional memory and institutional plurality within the NTA. Reiterating that it would closely monitor the implementation of the proposed reforms, the Bench made it clear that its objective was to ensure complete institutionalisation of examination governance so that recurring irregularities, security breaches and administrative failures do not undermine the fairness, transparency and credibility of the NEET-UG examination process.
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