The Supreme Court on Monday has extended the deadline by 2 weeks for a Centre-appointed 7-member expert panel tasked with reviewing the National Testing Agency’s operations concerning the NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate).
This extension allows the panel, chaired by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K. Radhakrishnan, additional time to finalize its report on exam reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing malpractice associated with NEET-UG.
The Supreme Court had previously issued a formal order on August 2, broadening the panel’s scope to evaluate the NTA’s functioning and recommend necessary reforms for the NEET-UG, which is pivotal for admissions into undergraduate medical programs.
The court had also declined to annul the NEET-UG 2024, noting insufficient evidence of systemic leaks or malpractices that would compromise the examination’s integrity.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed the bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that the original deadline for the panel’s report was approaching and requested a two-week extension. Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, who were also part of the bench, acknowledged that the report was nearly complete and granted the requested extension.
The court had previously highlighted several lapses in NTA’s procedures, including a significant security breach at an exam center in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, where unauthorized individuals gained access to question papers, and issues related to the transportation of these papers by e-rickshaws.
Additionally, there were reports of incorrect sets of question papers being distributed among candidates.
The expert committee includes notable members such as Randeep Guleria, B.J. Rao, Ramamurthy K., Pankaj Bansal, Aditya Mittal, and Govind Jaiswal. The Supreme Court outlined that the committee’s responsibilities would not only cover the tasks assigned by the Union government and the NTA but also focus on examination security, data protection, and technological improvements.
Moreover, the committee is tasked with policy development, stakeholder engagement, international collaboration, and recommendations for providing mental health support to students, along with training for NTA staff.
In 2024, over 2.3 million students participated in the NEET-UG for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses, underscoring the importance of the panel’s recommendations in shaping the future of medical education in India.
