By The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring preparations for the NEET-UG re-examination following the controversy surrounding the paper leak that shook confidence in one of the country’s most important entrance tests.
Appearing before the court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government is taking extraordinary measures to ensure that the upcoming examination is conducted without any lapses. The assurance came as the apex court stressed the need for accountability, observing that incidents like paper leaks can be deeply distressing for lakhs of students who spend years preparing for competitive examinations.
Responding to the court’s concerns, the Centre said the interests of students remain a top priority and that multiple safeguards have been introduced for the NEET-UG examination scheduled for June 21.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the examination, also informed the court that it has undertaken a major overhaul of its security and administrative systems after the cancellation of the earlier test. In an affidavit, the agency outlined a series of reforms recommended by a High-Powered Steering Committee formed to strengthen examination processes at every stage.
Among the new measures are mandatory CCTV inspections at examination centres, preservation of surveillance footage for at least 90 days, mock drills before the exam, verification of power backup facilities, emergency medical arrangements and contingency plans for adverse weather conditions. Officials have also been directed to conduct detailed inspections of centres in the days leading up to the test.
A notable addition is the proposal for post-exam forensic analysis of CCTV recordings to identify suspicious activities that may escape detection during the examination itself.
The NTA further revealed that it is considering whether future editions of NEET should transition to a computer-based format. A final decision will be taken after consultations with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare following this year’s examination.
As part of its restructuring, the agency has created several senior-level positions and brought in experts from institutions such as IITs, CBSE, UGC, IGNOU and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. State and district-level coordination committees involving police, intelligence agencies and administrative officials have also been established to strengthen monitoring and security across the country.
The developments come amid growing demands for greater transparency and accountability in national-level examinations, with the government seeking to reassure students that the integrity of the process will be protected.
