The Central government on Friday informed the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally supervising the re-examination process of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG following the recent paper leak controversy.
Prime Minister's Personal Supervision
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that the Prime Minister is personally overseeing the process to ensure there are no lacunae, as reported by news agency PTI. The Centre stated that new mechanisms have been put in place for the NEET-UG scheduled for June 21.
Supreme Court's Response
The Supreme Court bench asked the Centre to ensure accountability, remarking, "It is actually very traumatic if something like this happens. We should not disappoint our youngsters." In response, the Centre said, "We are dealing with youths, the government is seriously concerned about their concerns."
NTA's Structural Reforms
The National Testing Agency (NTA) informed the Supreme Court that it has introduced sweeping structural and security reforms in the aftermath of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and the cancellation of the examination, as reported by news agency ANI. These submissions came in response to petitions by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the United Doctors Front (UDF), which sought a comprehensive overhaul of the examination body.
High-Powered Steering Committee Recommendations
In an affidavit, the NTA stated that a High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) reviewed preparations for NEET-UG 2026 during a meeting on April 17, 2026, and proposed safeguards covering pre-exam, during-exam, and post-exam stages. These measures include mandatory CCTV checks and storage of footage for a minimum of 90 days, mock drills at examination centres, weather-related contingency plans, verification of power backup systems, emergency medical arrangements, and detailed inspections of centres in the week before the exam. The committee also recommended post-examination forensic analysis of CCTV footage to identify suspicious activity.
Future Examination Mode
The NTA further informed the court that the HPSC will meet again after NEET-UG 2026 to decide, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whether future NEET examinations should shift to Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode or continue in the Pen-and-Paper Test (PPT) format.
Implementation of Recommendations
According to the affidavit, several recommendations by the High-Level Committee of Experts (HLCE) have already been implemented, while others are in advanced stages. As part of restructuring, 16 senior-level posts, including Director and Joint Director positions, have been created. Two Joint Secretary-rank officers have been appointed as Additional Director Generals to oversee technology operations and examination security, while a Secretary-level officer took charge as Director General of the NTA in March 2026. Experts from IITs, UGC, CBSE, KVS, and IGNOU have been brought in to strengthen examination management and security.
Coordination Mechanisms
The NTA informed the court that State-Level Coordination Committees (SLCCs) and District-Level Coordination Committees (DLCCs) have been formed nationwide to ensure secure conduct of examinations. By the time NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3, 2026, 18 SLCCs and 621 DLCCs had been operationalised. These panels include officials from administration, police, intelligence agencies, NIC, and NTA to bolster surveillance and coordination during examinations.
