NEET in CBT mode: SC tags plea with pending NTA reform cases, flags data security concers
New Delhi: Stating that the transition to a computer-based examination would require addressing several issues beyond simply digitalising the process, the Supreme Court has tagged a petition seeking NEET UG in computer-based test (CBT) mode with the batch of pending cases seeking reforms in the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The Division Bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe directed that the plea raises important issues and should be heard along with the pending petitions related to the NEET paper leak controversy and listed them for hearing on August 3.
The Top Court observed that although it had not entertained several petitions on the issue, the present plea raised "good issues" that deserved consideration.
"There are many petitions we have not entertained, but in this one certain good issues have been raised. We will post it along with that batch," Justice Narasimha remarked.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, informed the Court that the government had already taken serious steps after the controversy. He said a high-level expert committee has been formed to review the NEET examination process and suggest reforms.
"It is my duty to point out that the Central Government has taken a very serious view and a high-level committee has been constituted. The Prime Minister has already declared it," Mehta submitted.
According to the Centre, the committee is headed by Nandan Nilekani and includes former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, former Union Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.
The Bench also discussed the challenges of shifting NEET from the current pen-and-paper format to an online examination.
Justice Narasimha observed that the transition would require the government to address several issues beyond merely digitising the examination. "When the transition occurs from physical conduct to online, what additional safeguards need to be taken? How will the database be secured?" the Bench asked quoted by the lawbeat.
Responding to the Court's concerns, Mehta pointed to the composition of the expert committee. "That is why we have Mr. Nilekani. He is an expert on the subject," the Solicitor General said.
The Bench, however, indicated that cybersecurity concerns extended beyond conducting the examination itself.
Justice Narasimha observed that data storage and protection would also require robust safeguards if the examination process were to move online.
"Data storage is also an issue," the Court remarked.
Petition Seeks CBT-Based NEET UG
The public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh through Advocate-on-Record Neema. It seeks directions to conduct NEET UG through the computer-based test (CBT) mode, arguing that the existing pen-and-paper system has repeatedly failed to ensure the security and integrity of the examination.
The petition also seeks urgent intervention from the top court to direct the Union of India and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to adopt a secure digital examination architecture and technological safeguards to preserve the integrity of NEET UG.
The petition states that more than 22 lakh medical aspirants depend on NEET UG for admission to undergraduate medical courses and therefore the examination process must be fair, transparent, and secure.
It refers to the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3, alleging that question papers and "guess papers" were circulated on platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram before the exam. Following reports that the examination process had been compromised, the National Testing Agency cancelled the exam on May 12.
"The cancellation of an examination affecting more than 22 lakh candidates demonstrates that the integrity of the examination process stood compromised and that the existing examination mechanism failed to preserve confidentiality and security of examination material," the plea stated
The petitioner argued that the controversy is not an isolated incident but part of a continuing pattern of examination security failures under the NTA. The petitioner also argued that the NTA has already demonstrated its capability to conduct nationwide examinations through CBT mode by successfully holding JEE (Main) 2026 across 584 examination centres in 319 cities, including centres outside India.
The plea further noted that the Union Government has already announced that NEET UG will transition to CBT mode from 2027, contending that postponing the shift despite the cancellation of the 2026 examination is unreasonable.
Last week, the Centre had also informed the Supreme Court that it is carrying out a comprehensive overhaul of the NTA and is open to considering any suggestions made by the Court to strengthen the examination system.
