The Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concern over the repeated incidents of alleged question paper leaks in the NEET-UG examination process and criticised the National Testing Agency (NTA) for its handling of such controversies.

During a hearing on petitions demanding structural reforms in the national entrance examination system, the apex court observed that the NTA appears to have failed to learn lessons from earlier incidents despite prior judicial directions and monitoring mechanisms being put in place.

The court remarked on the recurring nature of such issues and the apparent lack of effective preventive measures, which has raised questions about the credibility and security of high-stakes competitive examinations in the country.

The petitions before the court have been filed by medical associations and student groups seeking either a complete overhaul of the NTA or the establishment of a more autonomous and secure body to conduct examinations such as NEET-UG.

The petitioners have argued that repeated breaches in examination integrity undermine student trust and fairness in the selection process for medical education.In response, the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the NTA, and the Central Bureau of Investigation, seeking their formal responses.

The court has also directed the NTA to file an affidavit detailing its compliance with recommendations made by a previously constituted monitoring committee following earlier paper leak controversies.

Additionally, the court has asked a judicial officer involved in oversight to submit an affidavit on steps taken to ensure implementation of the high-powered committee’s directions.

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing, and the re-exam related to the controversy has been mentioned as planned for June 21, with the next hearing date set for May 29, 2026.