NEET-UG Exam: Supreme Court Directs Centre To File Affidavit On Steps Taken On Radhakrishnan & Nilekani Committees Reforms

The Supreme Court has directed the Union of India to submit an affidavit within three weeks detailing the steps taken to implement the suggestions made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, as nuanced by the Nandan Nilekani Committee.

The Court was hearing the pleas filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and other stakeholders in connection with the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case.

On the last date of hearing, the Court asked the Union to file an affidavit after the Court made suggestions.

Previously, the Court has made suggestions in a plea concerning structural and administrative reforms for conducting the NEET-UG examination, highlighting the urgent need to transition from temporary measures to permanent institutionalization. The Court suggested evaluating a shift from paper-based testing to CBT—similar to the JEE model—including the feasibility of multiple-session examinations.

The Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe ordered, "The Union of India, through the Secretary, has filed an affidavit indicating the progress that has been made. We have conveyed to the learned Solicitor General that the Court is concerned about the institutionalization of the National Testing Agency (NTA) with all necessary infrastructure, manpower, and other technological capabilities...We are informed that the Nandan Nilekani Committee, which has been constituted to recommend end-to-end reforms focusing on leveraging advanced technology like AI and blockchain to strengthen security and integrity in examinations, has convened a meeting to consider various recommendations..."

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Union.

The Court added, "As indicated, we are concerned about the institutionalization of the National Testing Agency. We direct the Secretary to file an affidavit indicating in detail the steps that have been taken to implement the suggestions made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, as reflected and nuanced by the Nandan Nilekani Committee. This affidavit, containing all details and indicative timelines, shall be filed within a period of three weeks from today. We also request Dr. K. Radhakrishnan to remain present."

A writ petition was preferred by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) following the systemic collapse and cancellation of the May 3 examination. Previously, the Court remarked that it is sad that NTA has not learned lessons from the earlier NEET paper leak, as it sought a response from the Centre, NTA and CBI on pleas for the replacement of the testing agency.

The Court had also directed the Union Ministry of Education to establish robust "institutional memory" and "institutional plurality" within the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the existing framework was robust and foolproof, though subject to minimal human intervention at certain stages.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the existing mechanism was robust, maintaining that "the system in place is fool proof but at some points there are human interventions."

Elaborating on the procedural protocol, the Solicitor General explained that multiple moderators were instructed to prepare a pool of 500 questions, from which separate sets of moderators selected questions to assemble four distinct question papers.

He noted that out of these, the Director General (DG) of the NTA selected only two papers, ensuring that "till then nobody knows which one will be ultimate question paper."

He further detailed the logistical security, stating that the papers were transported in sealed boxes under CCTV and CISF surveillance to identified printing presses, where access was strictly regulated and video-recorded.

He submitted that the questions and answer options were systematically jumbled across all sets. Interruption followed from the Bench, which observed that the mechanisms outlined by the government were already covered under the Radhakrishnan Committee report, remarking that "our questions are very different."

He submitted that question papers were dispatched to examination centres in iron boxes equipped with non-openable locks, transported via GPS-tracked vehicles, and stored in bank strongrooms. He outlined the final distribution process involving the City Coordinator, District Magistrate, and class coordinators, reaffirming that "all the students have to break the seal open" before the examination commenced.

Responding to the submissions, the Bench pointed out that these operational details fell directly within the scope of the Radhakrishnan Committee, which had correctly identified the issue as a systemic flaw requiring formal institutionalisation.

The Court observed that "what really needs to be done is institutional memory, institutional expertise," emphasizing that a permanent infrastructure, robust software, a sovereign database, and dedicated security officers of Director rank were essential to address the pitfalls.

The Court said, "File an affidavit. Affidavit clearly indicating two things which need to be done. The new committee must review the recommendations of Radhakrishnan Committee. Why we are saying this is, the reason is this: You can't get into this—one committee gives recommendations, and then lock, stock, and barrel, we leave it, and another committee starts. And then, yet another committee starts. There must be some continuity...Let the new committee pore into the recommendations made by Radhakrishnan Committee...See, to what extent... There are a large number of... In fact, before that, there were two more committees, which Radhakrishnan Committee looks into it—what's the background?—and builds upon it. But then, it is not on the paper. It must translate into action. That is what our concern is...You also have to tell us where it is located. Most important: Where it is, NTA is now located? Does it have physical infrastructure? Does it have the manpower?"

The Solicitor General apprised the Court regarding the ongoing institutionalization of the NTA, stating that its office had been relocated from Okhla to the Government of India Press building at Minto Road.

It was submitted that the new premises comprised two full floors, accommodated over 200 personnel, and were secured by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

On the query regarding data security, the Court was informed that the NTA was establishing on-premise graphics processing units (GPUs) and servers, alongside support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and C-DAC, to build an in-house technical team and prevent data breaches.

Regarding question paper translations, the learned Solicitor General clarified that translations across 13 languages were performed manually with two-way cross-verification, and that AI models were not being utilized for translation work.

The medical body has urged the court for direct restructuring or replacement of NTA with a robust and autonomous system to conduct NEET-UG, citing a "direct assault" on the fundamental rights of over 22.7 lakh students through recurring paper leaks.

It has also sought a direction to appoint a high-powered monitoring committee until a fresh body is formally constituted to oversee the re-examination. It further said the committee should comprise a retired Supreme Court judge as the chair, along with a cybersecurity expert and a forensic scientist, to ensure that no further leaks occur.

The undergraduate-level National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) held on May 3 by the NTA for admissions to medical education programmes was cancelled on May 12 amid allegations of a paper leak, which are now being probed by the CBI.

Recently, another Bench of the Supreme Court has said that it will constitute a high-powered judicial committee—comprising a former Supreme Court judge, a former High Court Chief Justice, and a retired Director General rank officer—to comprehensively investigate grievances, address allegations of sexual assault and online harassment against protesters, and evaluate police conduct during the NEET paper leak protests.

Cause Title: Federation Of All India Medical Association v. National Testing Agency and Ors. [W.P.(C) No. 651/2026]