Supreme Court Upholds NEET-UG 2026 Exam Format Amid Calls for Change

The Supreme Court has ruled against a request to change the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination format to computer-based testing, opting to maintain the traditional pen-and-paper method. This decision comes as the NTA prepares for the upcoming exam scheduled for June 21. The court's ruling reflects ongoing concerns about security and the integrity of the examination process, with further discussions on potential reforms expected in July. The Prime Minister is reportedly monitoring the situation closely following recent controversies surrounding the exam.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 1, 2026, 20:40 IST

Supreme Court's Decision on NEET-UG 2026

New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected a request to mandate the National Testing Agency (NTA) to switch the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination to a computer-based testing (CBT) format. The court noted that such a change could not be implemented at this point, as preparations for the upcoming examination on June 21 were already underway.

A panel consisting of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Aravind Kumar showed reluctance to consider the plea for an immediate transition from the traditional pen-and-paper method to CBT for the re-test, scheduling the next hearing for July.

This ruling indicates that the re-examination will continue as planned using the current format, with admit cards anticipated to be available by June 14.

The petition, submitted by advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, called for urgent measures to conduct the June 21 re-examination via CBT, citing ongoing allegations of paper leaks and security issues that have highlighted weaknesses in the traditional examination system.

During the proceedings, Justice Narasimha's panel remarked that it was inappropriate to grant such relief at this time, given that the examination had already been canceled once and was being rescheduled.

The Supreme Court mentioned that the matter could be revisited during the next hearing, linking it with other pending requests for reforms in the NTA's operations.

The petition argued that despite recommendations from a high-level committee led by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan after the 2024 incident, NEET-UG 2026 was still being conducted under a largely unchanged pen-and-paper system, which involves the physical handling of sensitive examination materials.

In a previous session addressing examination reforms, the Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of establishing individual accountability within the NTA, warning that ongoing controversies would persist unless specific responsibilities were assigned to officials managing various facets of the examination process.

The Centre informed the Justice Narasimha-led panel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was closely overseeing the developments following the NEET-UG 2026 controversy.