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Supreme Court Signals NTA Visit Amid NEET Reform Push
The Supreme Court is checking whether the agency that runs the NEET exam is becoming safer and more reliable.
The judges may visit the National Testing Agency’s office in New Delhi.
They want to see whether the new systems, buildings and staff are actually working.
The court said temporary fixes are not enough.
It wants permanent workers and permanent teams at the agency.
The government said it has created new structures and is studying recommendations from expert groups.
A task force led by Nandan Nilekani is also working on changes.
The court asked officials to publish their reports so students and others can give suggestions.
The Supreme Court indicated that its bench may visit the NTA’s upgraded office on Minto Road, New Delhi.
The court stressed that permanent staff, organisational structures and institutional memory are needed to prevent recurring NEET paper leaks.
The Centre said a Nandan Nilekani-led task force had consulted the K. Radhakrishnan committee and would report on reforms.
NTA’s affidavit describes a functional-vertical structure, strengthened leadership, specialist recruitment and a secured 55,520-square-foot facility.
The court ordered reform affidavits to be made public and sought a dedicated channel for stakeholder suggestions.
- Who
- A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, the Centre, the National Testing Agency, reform committees and petitioners including the Federation of All India Medical Association.
- What
- The court indicated it may inspect the NTA office and sought affidavits on reforms intended to prevent NEET-UG paper leaks and systemic failures.
- Where
- The NTA’s permanent office on Minto Road in New Delhi.
- When
- The reports describe the hearing as September 18 in one account and Thursday in another; the articles do not provide a consistent year.
- Why
- The court said institutional strengthening, permanent staffing and implementation of reform recommendations are necessary to prevent recurring examination leaks.
Court and Petitioners’ Priorities
Government and NTA’s Reform Response
Permanent institutional structure
Court and Petitioners’ Priorities
The court and petitioners emphasise permanent staff, permanent organisational verticals, limited deputation and implementation of expert recommendations.
Government and NTA’s Reform Response
The Centre and NTA say a permanent facility, revised functional structure and strengthened leadership have already been established, although human resources are only partially in place.
Examination format
Court and Petitioners’ Priorities
Petitioners have urged a timeline for moving from pen-and-paper examinations to computer-based testing.
Government and NTA’s Reform Response
The Centre says migration to computer-based testing, either in one or two stages, remains under active consideration by stakeholders.
Public accountability
Court and Petitioners’ Priorities
The court wants reform affidavits published and a channel created so stakeholders can review developments and submit suggestions.
Government and NTA’s Reform Response
The Centre has sought time to provide a detailed account of the task force’s recommendations and progress.
Key facts
- Proposed court visit
- The judges may visit the NTA’s Minto Road office to examine its systems, manpower and arrangements.
- NTA facility
- The affidavit describes a dedicated 55,520-square-foot government facility secured by 39 Central Industrial Security Force personnel and equipped with X-ray screening.
- NTA restructuring
- The agency is transitioning from exam-specific units to functional verticals with domain-specific capabilities.
- Leadership changes
- The NTA has a Secretary-level Director General and officers from the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Statistical Service.
- Reform task force
- A high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani has consulted the committee headed by K. Radhakrishnan.
- Court directions
- The NTA must upload its affidavit online, while the task force’s Joint Secretary must file an update within two weeks.
- Stakeholder input
- The court directed that a dedicated email address be created for suggestions.
Quotes
Supreme Court bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe
The Supreme Court bench hearing petitions concerning NEET-UG reforms and alleged paper leaks.
“Strengthening the NTA’s system institutionally is crucial to preventing recurring paper leaks. Merely immediate or temporary measures would not suffice. You must know that permanency of the entire system is key. There should be a permanent setup, permanent staff, permanent verticals. Very less deputation should be there. Only then a permanent structure will come up.”
theprint.in
“We will come there one day. Me and my brother to see if the system is working or not, the manpower etc. See permanency of a place and at least half of the staff, not everybody should be deputationists there. There should be permanent staff”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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