NEET Paper Leak Row: NTA informs SC of security overhaul, institutional reforms

Amid scrutiny over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed the Supreme Court that it has carried out wide-ranging structural and security reforms. In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the agency detailed the measures. It was in response to petitions filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the United Doctors Front (UDF), that alleged irregularities in the conduct of the May 3 examination.

In an affidavit, the NTA stated that a High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) reviewed preparations for NEET-UG 2026 during a meeting held on April 17, 2026. The committee recommended a series of measures aimed at strengthening security and improving operational preparedness before, during and after the examination. NTA claims that examination centres were directed to undergo mandatory CCTV verification, with surveillance footage required to be preserved for at least 90 days. The committee also recommended conducting mock drills at centres to test readiness and identify potential vulnerabilities before the examination.

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Examination authorities were instructed to develop weather-related contingency plans, verify power backup arrangements, and ensure the availability of emergency medical facilities. Detailed inspections of examination centres were also carried out in April last week. HPSC further recommended post-examination forensic analysis of CCTV footage. The objective of such analysis is to identify anomalies, suspicious activity, or irregular conduct that may not be detected during real-time monitoring on the examination day. Re-NEET will be held on June 21.

Recruitment at NTA

As part of its institutional restructuring, the testing agency said 16 new senior positions have been created within the organisation including Director-level and Joint Director-level posts . The agency informed the court that two Joint Secretary-rank officers have been appointed as Additional Director Generals. One of them has been tasked with overseeing technology operations, while the other will supervise test security and related functions. Additionally, a Secretary-level officer was appointed as the Director General of the NTA in March 2026.

To improve technical expertise and examination governance, the NTA stated that it has engaged domain specialists from several leading educational and academic institutions. These include the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

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Committees for co-ordination

On the coordination front, the agency informed the court that State-Level Coordination Committees (SLCCs) and District-Level Coordination Committees (DLCCs) have been established across the country to facilitate secure conduct of examinations and strengthen communication among stakeholders.

These committees comprise representatives from the civil administration, police departments, intelligence agencies, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and the NTA. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming days.