The Supreme Court has mandated the National Testing Agency (NTA) to address and rectify deficiencies in the NEET-UG examination system, emphasizing the use of technology to enhance cybersecurity and prevent paper leaks. This directive comes in the wake of issues surrounding the NEET-UG test held on May 5, with problems arising when results were declared a month later.
The court criticized the NTA for “flip-flops” in the administration of the national test for aspiring medical professionals, stating that such inconsistencies do not serve the interests of students. “We have highlighted all deficiencies in the structural processes of the NTA… this we cannot afford for the betterment of the students,” the court remarked on Friday.
Committee Review and Recommendations
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has given a central government-appointed committee, chaired by ex-ISRO chief Dr K Radhakrishnan and including former AIIMS (Delhi) Director Dr. Randeep Guleria, until September 30 to submit a comprehensive report. This seven-member panel is tasked with analysing the entire examination process and suggesting improvements to enhance efficiency.
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The Ministry of Education has been instructed to report compliance with the committee’s recommendations and decisions regarding the implementation of these measures within two weeks of receiving the report.
Guidelines and Measures
The court provided eight key points to guide the committee’s review:
- Establishing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the conduct of qualifying exams.
- Reviewing the process of allotting exam centers.
- Enhancing identity checks of candidates.
- Implementing CCTV monitoring of exam centers.
- Ensuring secure logistics providers to prevent tampering of question papers, especially during transportation.
These measures aim to address concerns that the 2024 NEET-UG exam papers may have been leaked while being transported in locked boxes from printing locations to exam centers.
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Specific Incidents and Broader Concerns
Regarding the issue of leaked exam papers, the court noted it was satisfied there was no systemic breach, with the leak being confined to Patna (Bihar) and Hazaribagh (Jharkhand).
Chief Justice Chandrachud also highlighted the importance of mental health counselling programmes for students and training for staff and management to address these concerns effectively.
This directive is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring the integrity and reliability of the NEET-UG examination process, safeguarding the interests of students, and enhancing the credibility of the NTA.
