The Supreme Court of India is set to review recommendations from task force led by Nandan Nilekani regarding online administration of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This decision follows the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam,originally scheduled for May 3, due to allegations of paper leak.
During a hearing on Monday,July 27, 2026, the Bench, comprising Justices P.S . Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, emphasized the need for innovative solutions as the examination transitions from a physical format to an online one. The justices expressed concerns about necessity for enhanced cybersecurity measures and database protection to safeguard integrity of the examination process.
The plea prompting this review was filed by Sudhakar Singh, a Member of Parliament from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Singh's petition follows the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to cancel the NEET-UG amid ongoing investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged leak.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union Government,informed the court that a high-level committee has been established to address these issues . This committee,announced by the Prime Minister, includes prominent figures such as Nilekani,former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka,IIT Chennai Director V. Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal,and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for Singh's plea on August 3 . Earlier, on June 1, the court declined to expedite a request from Singh for a re-test to be conducted on June 21 in a computer-based format. The NEET-UG was initially cancelled on May 12,leading to significant unrest among students awaiting medical admissions .
In light of these developments,political figures, including Rahul Gandhi,have called for accountability, urging the Prime Minister to apologize to affected students and take action against those responsible for exam's disruption. The situation continues to unfold as stakeholders await task force's recommendations on the future of the NEET examination.
