The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition requesting that the NEET UG 2026 examination, rescheduled for June 21, be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode rather than the traditional pen-and-paper format.
The plea was mentioned before a partial-working-day bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Arvind Kumar. The bench refused to take up the matter urgently, stating that it would be listed after the court vacation.
Responding to the plea, Justice Narasimha remarked, "They (NTA) are reholding the exam. The kind of pressure they have. We will post after vacation."
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is the largest medical entrance examination in the country, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to undergraduate medical courses across India.
Background of the Case
The petitioner argued that conducting the exam in pen-and-paper mode could lead to irregularities and logistical challenges, advocating for a shift to CBT mode to ensure transparency and efficiency. The Supreme Court's decision to postpone the hearing means the matter will be taken up after the summer vacation, leaving the exam format unchanged for now.
Implications for Students
With the exam scheduled for June 21, students preparing for NEET UG 2026 will continue under the current pen-and-paper format until further court orders. The NTA, which has faced scrutiny over exam conduct in the past, is expected to proceed with the existing plan.
