Supreme Court Expresses Discontent Over NEET-UG Exam Irregularities
The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns regarding the National Testing Agency's management of the NEET-UG examination process, particularly in light of ongoing allegations of paper leaks. The court has issued notices to the NTA and the central government, demanding responses to petitions calling for the agency's dissolution. Furthermore, the court has instructed the NTA to submit an affidavit detailing compliance with previous directives. The Federation of All India Medical Association has called for a complete overhaul of the NTA's structure to protect the rights of millions of students affected by these issues. The situation highlights the urgent need for reform in the examination process to ensure integrity and fairness.
| May 25, 2026, 15:52 IST
Supreme Court's Strong Reaction to NEET-UG Issues
The Supreme Court voiced its strong disapproval on Monday regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination process, stating it is "unfortunate that the NTA has not learned from previous directives issued concerning the 2024 NEET paper leak case." A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe has issued notices to the central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA), seeking responses to several petitions, including one from the United Doctors Front (UDF). These petitions call for the dissolution of the NTA, citing allegations of paper leaks for the 2026 examination and requesting a re-examination under the supervision of a former Supreme Court judge.
Court Orders NTA to Submit Affidavit
The court has mandated that a copy of the petitions be provided to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and other involved parties. Additionally, the NTA, responsible for conducting the NEET exam, has been instructed to file an affidavit by Thursday regarding compliance with the court's directives for 2024. The bench remarked on the unfortunate lack of lessons learned, noting that this issue has previously been brought before the court. A committee had made several recommendations that were accepted, and the court expects the NTA to report on the actions taken to comply with these recommendations. The Supreme Court has issued notices on a petition filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) through lawyer Tanvi Dubey, indicating that it is consolidating all similar cases.
Committee to Report on Compliance Measures
The court has directed the committee established by the government, chaired by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan, to provide a detailed account of the steps taken to comply with its directives. The medical organization has urged the Supreme Court to establish a robust and autonomous system for conducting the NEET-UG exam, citing repeated paper leaks as a "direct assault" on the fundamental rights of over 2.27 million students. They have also requested the appointment of a high-level monitoring committee until a new body is formally established to oversee the re-examination process. The organization suggested that this committee should include a retired Supreme Court judge, a cybersecurity expert, and a forensic scientist to prevent future paper leaks.