The Supreme Court on Monday deferred hearing a petition seeking to conduct the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) through a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode instead of the existing pen-and-paper format, observing that the issue would be considered along with other pending pleas seeking structural reforms in the examination system.
The Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe adjourned the matter to be heard alongside two writ petitions filed by the United Doctors Front and the Federation of All India Medical Association, which raise broader concerns over reforms in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
The Bench had earlier declined to direct the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the cancelled NEET-UG 2026 examination through CBT but had kept open the larger question of transitioning the examination from pen-and-paper to a computer-based format.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the constitution of a High-Level Task Force headed by former Infosys Executive Chairman Nandan Nilekani to recommend structural reforms within the NTA. The Task Force also comprises former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, former Education Secretary and ex-CBSE Chairperson Anita Karwal, and senior bureaucrat Amrit Lal Meena. Since the connected matters are already listed for hearing next Monday, the Court deferred the present petition as well.
Earlier, the Bench had stated that it would monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the High-Level Committee headed by former ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, which had also recommended a gradual shift to a CBT model. The Court had directed the Union government to file a comprehensive affidavit explaining how it proposed to implement the transition while ensuring data security, noting that digital systems too remain vulnerable if cybersecurity is compromised.
The present petition, filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, was moved following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 after allegations of a widespread paper leak.
Besides seeking a roadmap for transitioning to a fully computer-based examination, the petition calls for major reforms, including replacing the NTA with an independent statutory National Examination Authority, adopting encrypted digital transmission of question papers, biometric verification, AI-based surveillance, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and mandatory digital locking of question papers.
The petitioner has also sought the constitution of a high-level monitoring committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to recommend reforms, strict implementation of the K Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations, criminal prosecution of those involved in paper leak conspiracies, a status report from the CBI on its investigation into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, and publication of centre-wise results to improve transparency and facilitate the detection of irregularities.
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