Supreme Court asks NTA where things stand on 2024 exam reforms plan

The Supreme Court recently questioned the Union government regarding the implementation of recommendations from the K Radhakrishnan committee, formed in response to the 2024 NEET-UG exam controversy. The court emphasized its focus was on institutionalizing the National Testing Agency (NTA) rather than merely putting security protocols into place on paper.

A bench of justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, hearing petitions related to the NEET UG 2026 paper leak, instructed the government to submit an affidavit detailing the steps taken to implement the Radhakrishnan committee's recommendations, as well as providing indicative timelines for their implementation.

Formed in the aftermath of a similar controversy two years ago, the Radhakrishnan committee submitted its recommendations in October 2024. According to HT, only 57 of the 101 recommendations were fully accepted, while another 10 were partially accepted. One of the most significant recommendations, the restructuring of NTA, was completed in July following the 2026 NEET paper leak, which necessitated a retest.

The court's concern lies in the "institutionalization of the National Testing Agency with all necessary infrastructure, manpower, and other technological capabilities," as the security measures currently in place at NTA were already part of the examination system examined by the Radhakrishnan committee. The court questioned the permanency of these safeguards in the face of changing personnel and their evolution into permanent institutional processes.

It also inquired about the current state of NTA, such as its personnel, office location, resources, and infrastructure.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation earlier in the year added to the controversy. The court's intervention comes amid recurring NEET-UG paper leaks and the need to prevent future breaches. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the government had accepted the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan committee "in toto" and that steps were being taken to implement them.