The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination intensified on Monday after the Supreme Court expressed serious concern over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the country’s biggest medical entrance test. The apex court sharply criticised the National Testing Agency (NTA), observing that it was “sad that NTA has not learnt the lesson” despite earlier judicial interventions and recommendations following the 2024 NEET paper leak controversy.
A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe issued notices to the Centre and the NTA while hearing a batch of petitions seeking major reforms in the examination process. The pleas include demands for the dissolution of the NTA, a fresh NEET-UG examination under judicial monitoring, and the creation of a more autonomous and transparent examination body.
The court directed the NTA to file an affidavit by Thursday detailing the steps taken to implement reforms and recommendations suggested earlier by a court-appointed committee in the aftermath of the 2024 paper leak scandal. The bench also asked for copies of the petitions to be served to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and other concerned parties.
Expressing disappointment, the bench remarked that the issue had already reached the Supreme Court in the past and that a monitoring committee had been constituted to suggest corrective measures. “It’s sad that they have not learnt their lessons,” the court observed, underlining the gravity of recurring allegations surrounding the examination system.
The petitions before the court have been filed by organisations including the United Doctors Front (UDF) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA). The petitioners have argued that repeated paper leak incidents amount to a direct attack on the fundamental rights of lakhs of students who spend years preparing for the highly competitive examination.
FAIMA, through advocate Tanvi Dubey, sought a complete restructuring or replacement of the NTA with a “robust and autonomous” mechanism for conducting NEET-UG. The medical body also demanded the appointment of a high-powered monitoring committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to oversee the proposed re-examination process. It suggested that the committee should include cybersecurity specialists and forensic experts to ensure the integrity of future examinations.
The Supreme Court also asked the Centre-appointed panel led by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Radhakrishnan to provide details of the reforms implemented so far in the functioning of the NTA. The committee had earlier been tasked with recommending structural changes to improve transparency and accountability in the examination system.
The NEET-UG 2026 exam, held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 overseas centres, was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 after allegations of paper leaks and malpractice surfaced. The agency stated that information regarding suspicious activities was received on May 7, triggering an investigation. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the examination this year, making it one of the largest entrance tests in the country.
Following the cancellation, the NTA announced that a re-examination would be conducted on June 21. However, the move has sparked anxiety and uncertainty among students and parents, many of whom have demanded stronger safeguards to prevent future leaks.
The Central government has handed over the investigation into the alleged irregularities to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agency registered a case based on a complaint filed by the Department of Higher Education under the Union Education Ministry.
According to officials, the CBI has so far arrested 11 accused from multiple cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur and Ahilyanagar. Investigators claim to have traced the source of the leak and are probing a wider network allegedly involved in manipulating the examination process.
The latest observations by the Supreme Court have once again put the spotlight on the credibility and functioning of the NTA, which conducts several major entrance examinations across the country. With lakhs of aspirants awaiting clarity, the upcoming hearings are expected to play a crucial role in determining the future course of NEET-UG 2026 and the larger examination framework in India.
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