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In the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, the Supreme Court raised several important questions about the NTA’s examination system.
Supreme Court of India will again hear the NTA matter in three weeks. (Photo: PTI)
Following NEET UG, irregularities have also come to light in the UGC NET June 2026 examination. However, the Central Government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the system used to conduct NEET UG is foolproof and difficult to breach. The government explained that several moderators are involved in preparing the question bank, but they do not know which questions will ultimately appear in the examination paper.
In addition, the movement of question papers is tracked through a GPS-enabled system, which is a key measure aimed at preventing leaks. According to the Centre, this allows officials to monitor the transportation of question papers and maintain better control over their movement before they reach examination centres.
Enhanced security protocols
The government has also strengthened surveillance and security protocols at various stages of the examination process. These measures are designed to reduce the possibility of unauthorised access and protect the question papers until the examination begins. The developments come amid an ongoing legal investigation into the credibility of the NEET examination and the alleged paper leak linked to the 2026 exam. The Supreme Court has sought a detailed report on the measures being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that significant changes have been introduced to the NTA’s examination process, with greater use of technology to improve examination security. The government has also indicated that it is considering shifting NEET to a computer-based format in a phased manner in the future. For now, however, the examination will continue to be conducted in pen-and-paper mode.
In the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, the Supreme Court raised several important questions about the NTA’s examination system. A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe observed that an examination system cannot rely solely on security measures and that a strong and stable institutional framework is equally important. The court asked how many Directors General, Additional Directors General and other senior officials have been appointed to the NTA.
The court also sought details about secure offices, cybersecurity measures, confidential infrastructure, independent databases and data storage facilities. It emphasised that the examination authority must develop lasting expertise and experience, with lessons learned from each examination being used to make subsequent examinations more secure.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that four question papers are prepared from a question bank containing around 500 questions. The NTA Director General selects two of these papers. The question papers are printed under CCTV and CISF surveillance, while the vehicles transporting them are tracked through GPS. Two sets of question papers are stored in a strong room, and on the day of the examination, the NTA Director General decides which paper will be used.
The government further stated that the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee have been accepted. The Supreme Court, however, said its primary concern is to establish how the entire examination system can be made permanent, robust and institutionalised. The court directed the Centre to file an affidavit within three weeks detailing the steps being taken to strengthen NEET security.
The matter will be heard again after three weeks.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18The Central Government is considering shifting NEET to a computer-based format in a phased manner in the future. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had previously stated in May 2026 that NEET-UG would shift to CBT mode from 2027.
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August 20, 2026, 10:34 IST
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