The National Testing Agency (NTA) informed the Supreme Court that the decision to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 exam and call for a re-test was made to safeguard students’ interests and uphold public trust in the national examination system. The cancellation of the May 3 exam and the subsequent referral to the CBI showcased the NTA’s commitment to maintaining examination integrity.
In response to petitions seeking NEET-UG reforms, the NTA emphasized the seriousness with which it views examination integrity. The decision to cancel the exam and involve the CBI was aimed at preserving the trust on which the national examination system relies. The NTA filed an affidavit complying with the Supreme Court’s directive to update on the implementation of recommendations post the NEET-UG 2024 controversy.
The NTA highlighted that the May 3 exam took place at numerous centers across India and overseas, with over 22 lakh candidates under stringent security measures like biometric verification and AI-assisted surveillance. Following reports of malpractice, the NTA promptly escalated the issue to central agencies for verification, leading to the exam cancellation and CBI referral. The NTA assured the Supreme Court of its sincere efforts to safeguard the examination process’s integrity and the interests of genuine candidates.
The NTA assured ongoing cooperation with the CBI’s investigation and outlined enhanced security measures for the upcoming re-examination on June 21. It mentioned the implementation of recommended reforms, such as Aadhaar-based biometric authentication and AI-powered surveillance. The NTA also disclosed plans to transition NEET-UG to a computer-based test format in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for future cycles.
