New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed strong concern over the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper, telling the Centre that students “cannot be disappointed this way” and describing the situation as “traumatic for the youth.”
Hearing petitions linked to the controversy surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026, the apex court said it would continue monitoring the investigation into the alleged paper leak for some time. The exam, conducted for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country, was cancelled earlier this month following allegations that the question paper had been leaked before the test.
The bench also criticised the National Testing Agency (NTA), observing that the examination body appeared not to have learnt lessons from previous controversies involving paper leaks. Earlier this week, the court had issued notices to the Centre and the Education Ministry while hearing pleas seeking reforms in the examination process.
During Friday’s hearing, the court emphasised the emotional and psychological impact on lakhs of aspirants preparing for medical entrance examinations. “What happened is traumatic for the youth… you cannot disappoint youngsters this way,” the bench remarked.
Petitions before the court have sought either the restructuring or replacement of the NTA with a more technologically advanced and autonomous examination authority. The pleas also demand a court-monitored re-examination and systemic reforms to prevent future leaks.
The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), one of the petitioners, has alleged “systemic failure” in the conduct of NEET-UG 2026 and called for the creation of a high-powered monitoring committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Suggestions placed before the court include digital locking of question papers and shifting the examination to a fully computer-based format.
The Centre had earlier handed over the probe into the alleged leak to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Reports cited in court proceedings claimed that “guess papers” circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram allegedly matched a significant number of questions from the actual exam.
The Supreme Court has now asked the Centre to explain measures being taken to strengthen the NTA and make national-level examinations fool-proof, while stressing that accountability must be fixed in the matter.
