New Delhi, September 18 (Daily Kiran) : The Supreme Court of India addressed ongoing reforms at the National Testing Agency (NTA) during a hearing on September 18, 2026. The court indicated a potential visit to the NTA office to verify whether the examination system is functioning effectively after the NEET paper leak incident.
Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe were reviewing petitions filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association and the United Doctors Front, which called for extensive reforms within the NTA following the leak.
During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, informed the court that a new high-level task force led by Nandan Nilekani had engaged in comprehensive discussions with an expert committee chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan. He requested the court to allow until the end of September for the task force to submit its report.
In response, the court emphasized that the recommendations from the committee should not remain merely as a report but must be implemented effectively. The Supreme Court directed a joint secretary coordinating with the high-powered committee to file an affidavit detailing progress on the reforms.
The court also instructed the NTA to publicly disclose information regarding its reform progress. It mandated that the NTA post an affidavit on its website outlining the steps taken to improve the agency, allowing students and stakeholders to monitor the status of these changes.
Furthermore, the court reiterated the necessity for adequate staffing and expertise within the NTA, stating that reliance solely on deputation staff is insufficient. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled for three weeks from now.
Previously, on August 19, the Supreme Court had also addressed this issue, stressing the need for institutionalizing the reforms at the NTA. The court directed the central government to provide updates on the implementation of recommendations from both the K. Radhakrishnan and Nilekani committees. The Supreme Court underscored that reforms should be evident on the ground to prevent disruptions in major examinations like NEET and to maintain student trust.
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