NEET UG 2026: Govt Going '10 Extra Miles' On NTA Reforms, SG Tushar Mehta Tells Supreme Court
The Supreme Court sought NTA's roadmap for NEET UG 2026 reforms, including computer-based testing, cybersecurity measures and institutional safeguards, while stressing an end to ad hoc solutions
The Supreme Court on Friday continued hearing petitions seeking structural reforms in the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in the wake of the NEET examination controversy, with the Bench emphasising the need to institutionalise examination reforms and calling for a concrete roadmap on digital security, computer-based testing and governance mechanisms.
The Centre assured the Supreme Court that it was undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of the National Testing Agency's functioning. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the government was "going ten extra miles" on examination reforms, adding that the process was under the highest level of supervision and that any suggestions from the Court would be accepted without reservation.
A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe was hearing petitions filed by UDF Bharat and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA).
At the outset, Justice Narasimha sought an update from the Centre on the implementation of reforms.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that there had been further developments and sought a few more days to place a comprehensive plan before the Bench.
The Court, however, reminded the Centre that during the previous hearing it had highlighted the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, particularly concerning the constitution of the Governing Board, transparency measures, stakeholder representation and the proposed role of IITs.
"You had indicated that IITs would have a role, but you have not explained how," Justice Narasimha observed.
Responding, Mehta submitted that the government's reforms may extend beyond the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee.
Justice Narasimha remarked that "ad hocism has troubled us for years," signalling the Court's concern over temporary responses to recurring issues.
The Bench then outlined the areas in which it expected detailed progress reports, including digital transparency, administrative reforms, human resource management, collaboration among institutions and safeguards before, during and after examinations.
The Court specifically sought details regarding pre-examination mechanisms, including testing modalities, the composition of State and district-level bodies, and whether multiple-session examinations, similar to the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), were under consideration.
Justice Narasimha also flagged the printing and transportation of question papers as continuing areas of concern.
Mehta responded that the Centre had previously explained the entire process, from printing to transportation, following similar issues that arose two years ago.
The Bench, however, observed that deploying the Air Force to transport question papers was only an ad hoc solution. The Court also focused extensively on the proposed transition to computer-based examinations.
Justice Narasimha asked the Centre to present a concrete proposal explaining how computer-based testing would be implemented, how candidate data would be secured, what cybersecurity architecture would be put in place and what safeguards would exist at the post-examination stage. He observed that while digitisation may reduce certain risks, it also introduces concerns relating to cybersecurity, which require robust institutional mechanisms.
Appearing for the petitioners, Advocate Tanvi Dubey informed the Court that several suggestions had already been placed on record and sought the blueprint of the proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
The Bench assured that it would closely monitor the reform process. "We will monitor it. We will examine it," Justice Narasimha observed.
Towards the conclusion of the hearing, Justice Narasimha remarked that the Court was prepared to "go that extra mile" to ensure meaningful reforms.
In response, Solicitor General Mehta assured the Bench that the government was "going ten extra miles" and that the reform process was being supervised at the highest level. He further submitted that any suggestion made by the Court would be accepted "without reservation."
Recording these submissions, the Bench posted the matter for hearing after next Monday.
Before rising, Justice Narasimha made it clear that the Court intended to maintain close oversight over the reform process. "We will monitor the process very closely so that complete institutionalisation takes place. We cannot let this continue," the Bench observed.
Background of the Case
On July 15, the Court had indicated that a plea challenging the NTA's decision to cancel and re-conduct NEET UG 2026 for nearly 22 lakh candidates had become infructuous, while observing that concerns relating to institutional reforms in the examination process could still be examined in the pending proceedings.
Last month, the Supreme Court had refused to urgently list pleas concerning the re-conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 examination scheduled for June 21, reiterating that all matters relating to the examination stand assigned to a Bench led by Justice P.S. Narasimha.
Earlier, on June 17, the Court had said that a plea challenging the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to cancel and re-conduct NEET-UG 2026 for nearly 22 lakh candidates across the country would be placed before the Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha after the partial court working days, along with all other pending NEET matters.
In a related news, the Supreme Court had recently refused a plea made before it to conduct re-test of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG 2026, scheduled on June 21, through a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar was hearing a petition by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh which demanded immediate migration of NEET examinations to a CBT-based system. The bench posted the matter to July, effectively denying relief of NEET re-test. Justice Narasimha observed that the Court had already dismissed similar pleas in the past. "You know what kind of problems we are having. The examination was cancelled, it is being reconducted...the kind of pressure that they have, similar matters we have dismissed," Justice Narasimha observed.
Recently, Court on May 29th had underscored the urgent need for structural reforms within the National Testing Agency, observing that recurring controversies surrounding NEET examinations would continue unless clear individual accountability was fixed within the system. The Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe made the observations while hearing a batch of petitions arising from the recent NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and subsequent cancellation of the examination.
“The real problem won’t stop till actual accountability arises… Unless you identify the duty holders, it will be a diffused obligation,” the Bench remarked, stressing that responsibility within the examination framework cannot remain vague or institutional alone. Calling the incident “very traumatic”, the Court said students and their families should not suffer due to repeated failures in conducting national-level examinations. “We cannot disappoint our students. It is not merely the student, it’s the family too… It is so much of emotions, love, time, years of study,” the Bench had observed.
Case Title: Federation of All India Medical Association v. NTA; United Doctors Front v. Ministry of Education
Bench: Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe
Hearing Date: July 24, 2026