The Supreme Court of India has asked the Central Government to respond to a key question raised in multiple petitions — whether the National Testing Agency (NTA) should be scrapped and replaced by an independent examination authority — as part of the ongoing hearings related to the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case. The matter is expected to be heard formally in the second week of July 2026.
This marks a critical juncture in India’s examination governance history. The NTA, which was established in 2017 to conduct entrance examinations including JEE Main, NEET UG, CUET UG, and UGC NET, has faced serious credibility questions following the NEET UG 2024 malpractice controversy and the confirmed NEET UG 2026 paper leak.
What Has Happened So Far in 2026
- May 3: NEET UG 2026 conducted for 22 lakh students
- May 12: NTA cancels NEET UG 2026 after paper leak confirmed
- May 30 to 31: CUET UG 2026 disrupted by TCS technical glitch at multiple centres
- NTA files affidavit in Supreme Court committing to CBT mode for NEET from 2027 onwards
- Government uses IAF aircraft to transport question papers for the June 21 re-exam as a security measure
NTA’s Response to the Court
In its affidavit, NTA cited the implementation of the Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations and the planned transition to CBT as evidence of systemic reform. The agency maintained that the fundamental vulnerability was the OMR paper system, not institutional governance, and argued that the transition to computer-based testing would significantly reduce leak risks.
The court’s final decision on the future of NTA will have long-term implications for every student appearing in central government entrance examinations across India.
