NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled; SC Slams NTA for Repeated Paper Leaks

The Supreme Court of India recently expressed profound anguish and criticism regarding the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026, a pivotal examination for medical admissions across the country. In observations made around May 2026, the Court admonished the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting the exam, stating that it "hasn't learnt its lessons" from previous incidents of paper leaks and irregularities. The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 stemmed from widespread allegations of paper leaks, leading to significant distress among lakhs of aspiring medical students. This incident is not isolated; the Supreme Court had previously, in 2024, acknowledged paper leak occurrences in NEET-UG 2024 in locations like Hazaribagh and Patna. Although the Court then refused to cancel the entire NEET-UG 2024 examination, citing a lack of systemic compromise across the board, it had issued stringent directions and expanded the mandate of an expert committee (the Radhakrishnan committee) to recommend comprehensive reforms in examination security, transportation of papers, CCTV surveillance, candidate verification, encryption protocols, and grievance redressal. However, the recurrence of paper leaks leading to the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation prompted the Supreme Court to voice its disappointment in the NTA's failure to implement these crucial reforms effectively. During hearings, a bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe considered petitions from various medical bodies and individuals, including the United Doctors Front (UDF) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), seeking radical changes. These petitions called for the dissolution of the NTA due to its "systemic failure" and demanded the creation of a new, statutory national testing body with defined legal powers, transparency norms, and direct accountability to Parliament. Additionally, petitioners sought a court-monitored committee to oversee the transition of upcoming national examinations to ensure integrity and prevent future leaks. The Supreme Court underscored the necessity of a dedicated and scientifically equipped body, similar to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), to conduct national-level examinations, emphasizing that the UPSC has a robust track record and has rarely experienced paper leaks. The Court questioned the NTA's institutional capacity, its ad-hoc nature, and the lack of permanent, full-time officers dedicated to critical functions like digital infrastructure, testing, and research and development. The Solicitor General, representing the Union government, explained the existing safeguards for question paper security, describing the system as "foolproof" but acknowledging the possibility of human error. Nevertheless, the Court maintained that reform measures must be institutionalized rather than being ad-hoc for specific exams, stressing that unless clear accountability is fixed, the problems will persist. As of August 2026, the Supreme Court continued to scrutinize the NTA's capacity and sought the Union government's response on the steps taken to implement the recommendations of the expert committee, further nuanced by the Nandan Nilekani committee. The Court directed the Secretary to file an affidavit detailing the measures adopted to leverage advanced technology like AI and blockchain to strengthen the security and integrity of examinations. This ongoing judicial oversight highlights the gravity of the situation and the critical need for a reliable and transparent examination system in India to safeguard the future of millions of students. In related developments, the Supreme Court had also refused a plea to direct the NTA to conduct the re-test of NEET-UG 2026 in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, scheduling for a later date in July 2026, effectively denying immediate relief for a CBT re-examination. This complex scenario underscores the challenges faced by the NTA and the Indian government in ensuring fairness and integrity in high-stakes public examinations.

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