Health Bulletin 28/July/2026 - Video

Here are the top health stories for the day:

NEET Computer-Based Testing Proposal: Supreme Court Defers Hearing On RJD MP's Plea

The Supreme Court on July 27 deferred the hearing on a petition seeking the conduct of NEET UG through a Computer-Based Test (CBT) instead of the existing pen-and-paper format. A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe decided to hear the matter along with two other petitions seeking broader structural reforms in the NEET examination system. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the Centre had constituted a High-Level Task Force headed by former Infosys Executive Chairman Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms in the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The Court had earlier kept the larger issue of shifting NEET to CBT open and directed the Centre to file a detailed affidavit explaining its roadmap, including cybersecurity safeguards, data protection and infrastructure requirements. The petition, filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, seeks a phased transition to CBT, replacement of the NTA with an independent statutory examination authority, implementation of the K. Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations, AI-based surveillance, encrypted question paper transmission, and stronger measures to prevent future paper leaks and organised examination fraud, reports Live Law.

Delhi Court Denies Bail to Doctor in NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak Case

A Delhi court on July 24 denied regular bail to an accused in the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, observing that if the prosecution's allegations are ultimately proven, the accused not only "sabotaged" the examination process but also "brought disrepute to the Nation" and eroded the trust of honest students. Rejecting the bail plea, Special Judge Ajay Gupta of the Rouse Avenue Courts held that the CBI's investigation prima facie indicated the doctor's active role in the conspiracy. According to the agency, he allegedly arranged for candidates to receive leaked Chemistry questions, referred beneficiaries to the alleged kingpin, accepted illegal payments, and attempted to conceal part of the proceeds recovered during the investigation.

The Court observed that witness statements and digital evidence prima facie established the accused as an active conspirator in an organised paper leak racket. It noted that the leaked questions allegedly matched 42 questions that appeared in the NEET UG 2026 examination. Holding that the investigation remained at a crucial stage and that the accused could influence witnesses if released, the Court ruled that the seriousness of the allegations outweighed his claim for bail. It also remarked that the alleged conspiracy caused significant financial loss to the government while undermining public confidence in one of the country's most important competitive examinations, according to a Law Beat report.

Prahlad Joshi's Old Remark on NEET Resurfaces After Education Minister Appointment

After Prahlad Joshi replaced Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister, his 2022 remarks on Indian students pursuing medical education abroad resurfaced on social media, drawing fresh criticism. Reacting to his appointment, several netizens and opposition leaders highlighted his statement made during the Russia-Ukraine war, when he had claimed that "90 per cent" of Indian students studying medicine abroad would not have cleared India's medical entrance examination. Congress leaders also targeted the appointment, with one describing it as "one disaster replaced by another", according to LiveMint.

Joshi had made the remarks in Belagavi, Karnataka, while addressing the evacuation of Indian students stranded in Ukraine. At the time, he said it was not appropriate to debate why students chose to study medicine abroad but maintained that most would not have qualified through Indian entrance examinations. The comments had sparked widespread outrage, particularly after an Indian medical student from Karnataka lost his life during the conflict. On Sunday, Joshi officially assumed charge as Union Education Minister, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the responsibility and saying he accepted the role with “humility and a deep sense of duty,” following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amid the ongoing NEET UG 2026 controversy.

NEET SS Counselling Delay: Doctors Demand Immediate Resumption

The fate of the doctors willing to pursue super-specialization remains uncertain as the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is yet to resume the NEET SS 2025 counselling, which was put on hold due to a pending matter regarding 151 vacant in-service seats in Tamil Nadu before the Supreme Court.

Even though the matter is listed before the Supreme Court bench on July 28, it is not clear whether the case will be taken up on the scheduled date. Amid this, raising concerns regarding thousands of NEET-SS qualified specialist doctors who remain without jobs due to the 5 months of delay in the counselling process, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has urged the Central Government to intervene.

For more details, check out the full story on the link mentioned below:

Doctors urge centre to expedite NEET SS hearing, resume counselling