Supreme Court Concludes NEET-UG Review, Assures Exam Reforms Ahead

Supreme Court's Decision on NEET-UG

New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court wrapped up its examination of the National Testing Agency's (NTA) operations regarding last year's NEET-UG, following assurances from the Centre about implementing recommended reforms from an expert panel.

A bench led by Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi acknowledged the Centre's compliance reports and the statements made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, leading to the dismissal of the plea.

Mehta indicated that the government had agreed to all recommendations from the seven-member panel, with the exception of conducting online NEET exams for now.

He explained, "With over 26 lakh students participating in NEET nationwide, the government needs to evaluate the availability of internet and computers, which will take some time. However, the expert panel's report has been accepted."

Mehta further stated that there were no remaining issues in the case, allowing for its closure.

The bench remarked on the submissions and developments, concluding that no additional orders were necessary.

Previously, on August 2, the Supreme Court had declined to annul the controversial NEET-UG 2024, citing insufficient evidence of systemic leaks or malpractice that could undermine the exam's integrity.

The court had broadened the scope of the expert panel, chaired by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, to evaluate the NTA's operations and propose reforms aimed at enhancing the transparency and integrity of the NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate).

On January 2, Mehta reported that the committee appointed by the Centre had submitted its findings and assured that the government would act on all recommendations.

On October 21 of the previous year, the Supreme Court had extended the deadline for the expert panel to submit its report on exam reforms.

The NEET-UG is administered by the NTA for entry into undergraduate medical programs.

While expanding the expert panel's responsibilities, the Supreme Court highlighted several lapses by the NTA, including a security breach at an examination center in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, where unauthorized individuals accessed question papers, and issues with the transportation and distribution of exam materials.

In addition to Radhakrishnan, the panel included members such as Randeep Guleria, B J Rao, Ramamurthy K, Pankaj Bansal, Aditya Mittal, and Govind Jaiswal.

The bench instructed the committee to also focus on examination security, data protection, technological improvements, policy engagement, and mental health support for students, along with training for NTA personnel.

In 2024, over 23 lakh students participated in the NEET-UG for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and related courses.

In November of the previous year, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition that sought a review of its August 2 ruling, which had denied a new NEET-UG 2024 examination.