The Supreme Court on Monday, June 1, refused to order the upcoming NEET-UG 2026 re-test to be conducted online, stating that the National Testing Agency (NTA) is already overwhelmed with administrative challenges.
A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Aravind Kumar declined a petition seeking to urgently shift the June 21 medical entrance re-examination from the traditional pen-and-paper format to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
“There is no question of conducting the re-examination in CBT mode. They [the NTA] are already having too many problems. The examination was cancelled, and now it is being re-conducted,” the bench observed, emphasizing the immense pressure currently facing the testing agency.
Sudden Shift to Computer-Based Testing Denied
The plea, filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh and others, sought a direction to force the NTA to abandon the physical exam format for the upcoming re-test. During the hearing, advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, representing the petitioners, clarified that they were not pressing any other prayers except the one transition to CBT mode for the June 21 exam.
However, the apex court remained firm, noting that similar petitions had already been dismissed. Justice Narasimha urged the counsel to recognize the logistical reality and the current pressure under which the NTA is operating to organize the re-test.
While the court refused the immediate transition for the June 21 test, the wider legal battle has been deferred, with the bench scheduling the petition for a more detailed hearing on July 27.
Background: Why is the NEET-UG Re-Test Happening?
The upcoming June 21 test is a direct consequence of a massive crisis that hit the medical entrance process last month.
- May 3: The NTA conducted the nationwide NEET-UG exam.
- May 12: Following widespread allegations of a paper leak, the NTA officially cancelled the May 3 test.
- Current Status: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently conducting a high-profile probe into the alleged leak, even as the NTA prepares for the physical re-examination on June 21.
This is not the first time India’s premier medical entrance test has come under judicial scrutiny. Following a previous paper leak controversy in 2024, the Supreme Court had refused to cancel the exam but laid down strict guidelines to prevent future leaks and established specific criteria for cancelling public examinations.
During a hearing on May 25, the Supreme Court expressed strong disappointment, calling it “sad” that the NTA had seemingly failed to learn lessons from the 2024 paper leak incident.
Prime Minister Supervising; Reforms Proposed for Next Year
Despite rejecting an immediate shift to an online test for the June 21 re-examination, both the government and the NTA have indicated that major structural reforms are on the horizon.
An affidavit filed by the NTA revealed that the agency, in consultation with the Central Government, is preparing to permanently transition the NEET-UG to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format starting next year.
For the upcoming June 21 test, the government has promised heightened security and oversight. Addressing the apex court on May 29, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the government is deeply sensitive to the concerns of the nation’s youth. He revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally supervising the situation to ensure “no lacunae” remain, adding that several new security mechanisms have been deployed specifically for the June 21 exam.
The Supreme Court had previously noted on May 29 that it remains committed to protecting the interests of young aspirants, adding that systemic issues with the medical entrance exam will persist until “actual accountability arises.”
The court is also currently hearing a broader batch of petitions demanding a complete restructuring or replacement of the NTA with a more robust and autonomous testing body.
