Supreme Court Pulls Up NTA Over NEET 2026 Leak | Centre Says PM Modi Supervising Reforms

The Supreme Court on Friday sharply questioned the Centre and the National Testing Agency over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, raising concerns about accountability, institutional failures and the trauma caused to students and families. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the re-examination and reform process to ensure there are no further lapses. The Centre told the Court that new security mechanisms have been introduced ahead of the rescheduled NEET-UG exam on June 21. The NTA informed the Court that sweeping structural reforms have been implemented, including mandatory CCTV checks, forensic analysis of surveillance footage, mock drills, emergency preparedness plans and strengthened coordination with police and intelligence agencies. The Court questioned how the leak occurred despite regular monitoring by the High Powered Committee and observed that accountability within the NTA remained unclear. Stressing the need for lasting institutional reforms, the bench directed the Ministry of Education to file a separate affidavit explaining how the NEET examination process would be institutionalised on a year-to-year basis to prevent future controversies. The matter will now be heard again in July.