Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Supreme Court May Inspect NTA Office Amid NEET Reform Push
The Supreme Court is checking whether the agency that runs NEET-UG has become safer and more reliable.
The judges may visit the NTA’s office in New Delhi.
They want to see whether its systems, staff and security arrangements work properly.
The court said temporary fixes are not enough.
It wants permanent workers and lasting teams at the agency.
The government said the NTA has created new structures and is studying expert recommendations.
A task force led by Nandan Nilekani is also working on reforms.
The court asked the NTA to publish information about its changes.
It also created a way for people to send suggestions.
The Supreme Court may visit the National Testing Agency’s permanent office on Minto Road, New Delhi, to assess its systems, staffing and security arrangements.
The bench said lasting institutional structures, permanent staff and limited deputation are needed to prevent recurring NEET-UG paper leaks.
A Nandan Nilekani-led task force consulted the K. Radhakrishnan committee and is expected to submit an interim report by the end of September.
The NTA says it has adopted functional verticals, strengthened leadership and moved confidential operations to a 55,520-square-foot facility secured by 39 CISF personnel.
The court ordered reform affidavits to be published and sought a progress report within two weeks, along with a 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 and United Doctors Front.
- What
- The court may inspect the NTA office and sought affidavits describing reforms intended to prevent NEET-UG paper leaks and systemic failures.
- When
- The hearing was reported as September 18, with sources differing on whether it occurred Thursday or Friday; the reports identify the alleged leak as involving NEET-UG 2026.
- Where
- The NTA’s permanent and upgraded facility on Minto Road in New Delhi.
- Why
- The court wants institutional strengthening, permanent staffing and implementation of reform recommendations to reduce examination leaks and improve NEET-UG administration.
Court and Petitioners’ Priorities
Centre 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 institutional memory to prevent recurring leaks.
Centre and NTA’s Reform Response
The Centre and NTA say a permanent facility, revised functional structure and strengthened leadership have been established, although human resources are only partially in place.
Examination format
Court and Petitioners’ Priorities
Petitioners have urged a timeline for shifting NEET from pen-and-paper examinations to computer-based testing.
Centre and NTA’s Reform Response
The Centre says migration to computer-based testing, in one or two stages, remains under consideration by stakeholders.
Implementation and accountability
Court and Petitioners’ Priorities
The court says committee recommendations must become functioning systems rather than remain in reports, and has sought public affidavits and stakeholder input.
Centre and NTA’s Reform Response
The Centre says the Nilekani task force is consulting stakeholders and expert committees before reporting on reforms and progress.
- Possible court visit
- The judges may visit the NTA’s Minto Road office to examine its systems, manpower and other arrangements.
- NTA facility
- The NTA says confidential offices moved to a 55,520-square-foot government facility secured by 39 Central Industrial Security Force personnel and equipped with X-ray screening.
- Organisational reform
- The NTA is transitioning from exam-specific units to functional verticals designed to build specialised capabilities.
- Leadership and staffing
- The agency has a Secretary-level Director General, officers from multiple services and plans for open-market recruitment of specialists; human resources were described as only partially in place.
- Nilekani task force
- The high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani consulted experts, including members of the K. Radhakrishnan committee, and was expected to provide an interim report by the end of September.
- Court directions
- The NTA must publish its updated affidavit, while the Joint Secretary coordinating with the task force must file a progress affidavit within two weeks.
- NEET-UG chronology
- According to the reports, the May 3 examination was cancelled on May 12, a re-test was held on June 21, and results were announced on July 16; the Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating the matter.
Sources
SC judges to visit NTA office, say institutional strengthening needed to curb NEET paper leaks
NEET-UG paper leak case: Supreme Court may visit NTA office, seeks report on Nandan Nilekani panel's progress
NEET-UG Paper Leak: Supreme Court May Visit NTA Office, Seeks Affidavit On Exam Reforms