Supreme Court Calls for Reforms in NEET Exam Process: What’s Next?

Supreme Court's Directive on NEET Exam Reforms

New Delhi: The Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of institutionalizing reforms in the NEET examination process during a session on Wednesday. The court instructed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide updates on the implementation of recommendations from both the Radhakrishnan panel and the Nandan Nilekani committee.

A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe requested Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to submit a new affidavit regarding the matter.

The Radhakrishnan Committee highlighted that the issues at hand are systemic and require institutionalization, which is crucial. The bench noted that while the procedures appear sound on paper, the situation changes significantly between exams.

Initially, Mehta informed the court about the safeguards in place, from the printing of NEET question papers to their distribution to students.

He asserted that the current system for conducting NEET exams is robust and resistant to breaches.

Mehta explained that multiple moderators contribute to the question bank without knowing which questions will be selected for the exam.

Additionally, he mentioned that vehicles transporting NEET question papers are equipped with GPS, ensuring that even minor movements are tracked.

This hearing addressed several petitions, including one from advocate Tanvi Dubey representing the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA).

The Radhakrishnan Committee, consisting of seven members, was established by the Ministry of Education following the NEET-UG paper leak to propose reforms in the examination process, enhance data security measures, and improve the operations of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Moreover, the government formed a high-powered task force led by Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, to recommend structural changes in the NEET examination framework.