NEET-UG 2026 Cancellation : 'UPSC Never Had Paper Leak, NTA Needs To Learn' : Supreme Court Seeks Union's Affidavit On Reforms

The Supreme Court raised concerns over the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 due to a paper leak, highlighting the ad-hoc nature of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the lack of institutional accountability. A bench led by Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe emphasized that the NTA must learn from bodies like the UPSC, which conducts large-scale exams without leaks. The court directed the Union of India to file an affidavit outlining measures to create an 'institutional memory of continuity' by employing specialized personnel to prevent future issues. During the hearing, Advocate Tanvi Dubey submitted suggestions for NTA reforms, while Dr. K Radhakrishnan, head of the monitoring committee formed in 2024, assured the court that most of the 35 long-term and 60 short-term recommendations had been implemented. He noted that NEET-PG 2025 was conducted mostly satisfactorily, though minor issues like power outages occurred. The committee had addressed vulnerabilities for the upcoming re-NEET exam scheduled next month. Justice Narasimha questioned how the current controversy arose despite the committee’s reforms, pressing Radhakrishnan on implementation gaps. Radhakrishnan confirmed the committee’s recommendations covered pre- and post-examination stages, focusing on preventing question paper tampering. The court also inquired about the committee’s regular meetings and accountability mechanisms. The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, assured the court that the government was treating the matter seriously, acknowledging its impact on students. The bench stressed that without clear accountability and institutional reforms, recurring issues would persist. The court’s focus remained on identifying specific duty bearers to ensure responsibility and prevent future exam disruptions.