Supreme Court Pulls Up NTA Over NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak, Says Lessons Not Learnt
The Supreme Court seeks a report from NTA on the steps taken in response to the recommendations of the high-level committee of experts over the NEET paper leak
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has observed it is “sad” that the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET, has still not learned its lessons despite the court intervening on previous occasions while making its displeasure evident over the NEET UG 2026 question paper leak.
A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe sought a response from the Centre, NTA and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on pleas for the replacement of the testing agency with a robust and autonomous body to conduct the medical entrance exam. The matter has been listed for hearing on May 29.
The Supreme Court directed that copies of the petitions be served on Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, among other parties, and asked the NTA to file an affidavit by Thursday on compliance with the court’s 2024 directions.
“We are so sad, they (NTA) haven’t learnt their lessons. We passed an order directing the constitution of a committee to give recommendations, which was accepted,” Justice P S Narasimha said.
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The bench sought a report from it on the steps taken in response to the recommendations of the high-level committee of experts, while hearing petitions by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and others seeking the replacement or restructuring of NTA. The bench also issued notice to the Agency.
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The bench directed NTA to file its counter-affidavit in the case and directed the chairman of the monitoring committee to ensure compliance with its directions.
In its plea, FAIMA argued that the widespread paper leak allegations and the subsequent cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 examination reflected a “systemic failure” on the part of NTA in ensuring the integrity and security of one of the country’s largest entrance examinations.