NEET re-exam will continue in pen-and-paper mode:SC says agencies already under pressure, format change not feasible now

Supreme Court has refused to accept a plea seeking the June 21 NEET re-examination to be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The court has scheduled the next hearing in July. As a result, the re-exam slated for June 21 will, for now, be held in the traditional pen-and-paper format. A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Aravind Kumar was hearing a petition filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh. The petitioner’s counsel urged the court to direct authorities to conduct the NEET re-exam in CBT mode. NEET-UG was conducted nationwide on May 3. Reports of a paper leak surfaced on the evening of May 7, following which the examination was cancelled on May 12. The re-exam is scheduled for June 21. Four key demands in the petition Replace the National Testing Agency (NTA) with an independent statutory National Examination Authority and implement the recommendations of the committee headed by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan. Introduce biometric verification, AI-based monitoring, encrypted digital question papers, and secure digital storage systems. Prepare a roadmap to make NEET a fully computer-based examination and strengthen examination centre infrastructure, cyber security, and digital testing systems. Direct the CBI to submit a status report on the paper leak investigation and publish centre-wise examination results to help identify irregularities. Parliamentary panel discusses replacing NTA Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports met on Monday under the chairmanship of Congress MP Digvijaya Singh. Discussions focused on NEET, the NTA, and the debate over pen-and-paper versus CBT mode examinations. The United Doctors Front (UDF) told the committee that concerns surrounding NEET extend beyond the examination format and involve transparency, accountability, and the credibility of the testing agency. The organisation called for the dissolution of NTA and the creation of a new national examination body through an Act of Parliament. UDF also argued that the investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak should be viewed alongside controversies linked to the 2024 examination and demanded a time-bound and transparent probe. 13 arrests so far in paper leak case NEET-UG was held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 centres abroad, with around 2.3 million candidates appearing for the exam. According to NTA, information about irregularities emerged on the evening of May 7, after which the matter was handed over to central agencies. The examination was cancelled on May 12, and a re-exam was announced. On May 15, the Ministry of Education and NTA confirmed June 21 as the re-examination date. The case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which has arrested 13 people so far. NEET provides entry to over 100,000 MBBS seats The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is India’s national entrance examination for admission to medical and dental courses. Introduced in 2013, it is the gateway for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS), nursing and other medical programmes at government and private institutions, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. The country currently has more than 100,000 MBBS seats and over 27,000 BDS seats. ​