Centre to Detail NEET Paper Safeguards in SC; Retest After Leak
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that it will place on record the safeguards and process for NEET question paper handling, from printing to distribution. This follows the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 due to a paper leak and the subsequent retest. The SC is monitoring steps to prevent future leaks and will hear the matter on Thursday.
Background
In 2024, NEET-UG faced paper leak allegations, leading to a Supreme Court case. The SC refused to cancel the exam but issued directions to prevent leaks. A committee headed by K Radhakrishnan was formed to recommend reforms. In 2026, a leak occurred again, forcing a retest.
Key facts
The Centre told the SC it wants to place on record the process and safeguards for NEET question paper printing and distribution.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Centre before a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.
The SC posted the hearing for Thursday or Friday after Mehta sought time.
The bench said it would also like to know the process.
On June 24, the SC had said it would 'closely monitor' steps to curb future NEET paper leaks.
The SC had earlier asked the government to ensure transparency, implement Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations, and follow the IIT model.
The ASG had assured the SC that the government is 'walking 10 extra miles' and everything is supervised at the highest level.
The NTA cancelled the NEET-UG exam held on May 3 due to paper leak allegations; retest was on June 21.
The CBI is investigating the paper leak.
In 2024, the SC had refused to cancel NEET-UG but issued directions to prevent leaks.
Prelims pointers
- NEET-UG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) for medical admissions.
- NTA: National Testing Agency, conducts NEET-UG.
- CBI: Central Bureau of Investigation, investigating the leak.
- Radhakrishnan Committee: Formed in 2024, headed by K Radhakrishnan, to recommend exam reforms.
- Supreme Court bench: Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.
- Solicitor General: Tushar Mehta.
- FAIMA: Federation of All India Medical Association, a petitioner.
Mains angles
- Discuss the challenges in conducting large-scale public examinations in India and the measures needed to ensure integrity.
- Critically examine the role of the Supreme Court in overseeing examination processes and the balance between judicial intervention and administrative autonomy.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations in preventing paper leaks.