The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a petition that sought the conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode instead of the current pen-and-paper format, according to media reports. The plea was filed in the wake of the controversy surrounding the cancellation of the medical entrance examination after allegations of a paper leak.
Petition Details
The petition was filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, along with Anubhav Garg, Indian Medical Association national spokesperson Dr Dhruv Chauhan, and Harisharan Devgan. The petition challenged the recent NEET-UG re-examination notification and urged authorities to introduce immediate reforms in the examination process.
Demand for a Shift to Digital Examination
The petitioners argued that the re-test should be conducted through a secure CBT framework. According to them, a computer-based system could help reduce risks linked to the printing, transportation, storage, and handling of physical question papers. The plea gained importance after the original NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, was cancelled across the country on May 12 following allegations of a question paper leak. The cancellation led to a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the examination was later rescheduled for June 21.
Paper Leak Allegations Sparked Nationwide Concern
The controversy emerged after investigators reportedly examined a “guess paper” that allegedly matched a significant portion of the actual examination paper. The development raised concerns that confidential examination material may have been circulated before the test. The alleged leak triggered protests from students and parents in several states. It also intensified questions about the examination security measures adopted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the country's largest medical entrance examination.
Separate Plea Seeks NTA Reforms
Meanwhile, another petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the United Doctors Front (UDF). The organisations have sought a major restructuring of the National Testing Agency, alleging systemic failures in the conduct of NEET-UG 2026. The petition has called for a court-monitored mechanism for future examinations and the implementation of reforms suggested after previous examination-related controversies.
Matter Still Before Supreme Court
While the court declined to hear the plea seeking a CBT-based re-examination, the broader concerns regarding the conduct of NEET-UG 2026 remain under judicial consideration. The Supreme Court has already sought responses from the Centre, the National Testing Agency, and the CBI in the separate case concerning examination reforms. The matter is scheduled for further hearing, as thousands of medical aspirants across the country continue to await clarity on the future of one of India's most important entrance examinations.
