Govt to SC: PM Supervising NEET Conduct, Says Centre

New Delhi, May 30 : The Supreme Court on Friday expressed concern over the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) while hearing petitions related to NEET-UG, stressing that institutional credibility and student welfare must take priority over assurances.

Observing that “we should not disappoint our youngsters,” the apex court underscored the need for strict accountability in the conduct of national examinations. The Solicitor General informed the court that the government is taking the matter seriously and has put in place new mechanisms ahead of the June 21 examination. He added that the process is being closely monitored at the highest level of the executive, including personal oversight from the Prime Minister, to ensure no procedural gaps remain.

The court was hearing multiple pleas, including demands for restructuring or replacing the NTA with a more autonomous and robust body to conduct NEET-UG.

Emphasising that “the real problem won’t stop till actual accountability arises,” the bench said responsibility must be clearly fixed on individuals rather than remaining diffuse within institutions. It also pointed to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as an example of a system that has maintained integrity without such disruptions, urging the NTA to adopt similar standards.

The bench noted that repeated irregularities in examinations are deeply distressing for students and their families, who invest significant emotional energy in the process. It further observed that many examination bodies function in an ad-hoc manner and stressed the need for long-term institutional strengthening rather than short-term fixes.

The court directed the Union Government to file an affidavit within six weeks detailing how the examination process will be conducted and strengthened in the coming years to prevent recurrence of incidents like those reported in 2024 and 2026.

Earlier, the NEET-UG examination held on May 3 was cancelled by the NTA amid allegations of a paper leak, with a re-examination scheduled for June 21. The Central Bureau of Investigation is currently probing the matter.