Centre Has Informed the Supreme Court It Has Undertaken a Comprehensive Overhaul of the National Eligibility-cum-entrance Test to Eliminate

In a compliance affidavit filed before a bench headed by Justice P S Narasimha, the Ministry of Education said the reforms aim to create a robust, institutionalised system that preserves institutional memory, strengthens examination security, and prevents future malpractices. The affidavit responded to the court's May 29 direction seeking details on future NEET conduct and how regulatory authorities would retain institutional memory. The government noted that while the Ministry of Education oversees the National Testing Agency (NTA), NEET is conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

It added that the affidavit does not comment on the merits of the ongoing CBI investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Parliament has strengthened the legal framework through the Public Examinations Amendment Act, 2026, building on the 2024 law that criminalised paper leaks, impersonation, and tampering. The government has also constituted a High-Powered Task Force on Examination Reforms, headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to recommend structural improvements within three months, focusing on AI and Blockchain for secure examinations.

The NTA has implemented a 10-stage security protocol, including air-gapped AI systems for translation, unique serial numbers on question papers and OMR sheets, and six layers of tamper-evident packaging with steel trunks and one-time-use locks. The 2026 Act provides for up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 crore. On May 12, the NTA cancelled the NEET exam held on May 3 amid leak allegations; a re-exam was held on June 21. The top court had earlier refused to cancel the 2024 test but issued directions to tackle leaks. On May 25, the court expressed sadness that the NTA had not learned lessons and sought responses on pleas for a robust autonomous body, including one from the Federation of All India Medical Association.