Journalism of Courage
NTA overhaul: Supreme Court seeks government’s update on NEET exam reforms
According to the Centre's submissions, the question-paper preparation process involves several moderators and subject experts who prepare questions for a common question bank. The experts are not informed about which of their questions will ultimately form part of the examination paper.
Centre on Wednesday told the court that the existing NEET system has several safeguards for question preparation and logistics (Expresss Photo/Upscaled with AI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to inform it about the action taken to implement recommendations of the K Radhakrishnan committee and the Nandan Nilekani-led task force on examination reforms. The top court said reforms in the NEET examination system need to be institutionalised and not depend on temporary or ad-hoc measures.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to file a fresh affidavit on the measures taken by the NTA. The court was hearing petitions seeking structural reforms in the agency following controversies over NEET-UG.
Also Read | NTA refresh: 4-tier paper checks, 600 experts out, CISF security at offices
The Centre told the court that the existing NEET system has several safeguards for question-paper preparation and transportation. Subject experts and moderators prepare questions for a common question bank, while experts are not told which questions will eventually be included in the examination paper. The government said this is intended to ensure that no individual has access to the complete paper in advance. Question-paper vehicles are also fitted with GPS devices to track their movement.
The court’s intervention comes as the government moves ahead with a wider overhaul of the NTA. The Education Ministry has removed 600 subject experts from the examination team and started bringing in new experts. Another 20 to 25 officials are expected to join the agency over the next two to three weeks.
The NTA will also introduce a four-tier system to scrutinise question papers. The checks are aimed at detecting factual, typographical, language and translation-related errors before papers reach candidates. The existing process already involves subject experts, psychometricians and multiple rounds of review.
Also Read | NTA sacks 47 officials amid student protests
The agency’s offices will also be shifted from Okhla to the Government of India Press building on Minto Road in central Delhi. Security at NTA offices will be strengthened with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) teams.
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The overhaul follows repeated concerns over paper leaks and errors in major examinations, including NEET-UG and UGC-NET. The government has been under pressure to strengthen accountability and restore confidence in the examination system.
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