NEET-UG paper leak: How NTA plans to prevent another breach — key reforms told to SC

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday told the Supreme Court that it has undertaken a major overhaul of its examination and security framework in the wake of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the agency detailed a series of measures aimed at strengthening exam security, ranging from forensic analysis of CCTV footage and mandatory mock drills to stricter monitoring of examination centres and contingency planning.The affidavit comes weeks after NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak, triggering nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of the conduct of high-stakes entrance examinations.The matter was related to petitions filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the United Doctors Front (UDF), which sought a complete overhaul of the NTA after paper leak row.The NTA said a high-powered steering committee (HPSC) reviewed preparations for NEET-UG 2026 during a meeting held on April 17 and recommended a series of strict safeguards before, during and after the examination.The new measures include mandatory CCTV checks at centres, preservation of footage for at least 90 days, mock drills, weather-related contingency planning, verification of power backup systems, emergency medical support and detailed inspections of examination centres in the week leading up to the test.The agency also said the committee recommended forensic analysis of CCTV footage after the examination to identify suspicious activity or irregular conduct that may not be detected in real time.In a significant move, the NTA informed the court that the steering committee will meet again after NEET-UG 2026 to decide, in consultation with the ministry of health and family welfare, whether future NEET exams should shift to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format or continue in the existing Pen-and-Paper Test (PPT) mode.The affidavit further stated that several recommendations made by the High-Level Committee of Experts (HLCE) have already been implemented or are in the final stages of execution.As part of the restructuring exercise, the NTA said 16 new senior-level posts have been created, including Director and Joint Director-level positions. Two joint secretary-rank officers have also been appointed as Additional Director Generals to oversee technology operations and examination security.The agency added that a Secretary-level officer was appointed as Director General of the NTA in March 2026. Experts from institutions including the Indian Institutes of Technology, University Grants Commission, Central Board of Secondary Education, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Indira Gandhi National Open University have also been brought in to strengthen exam management and security systems.On coordination with state authorities, the NTA told the court that state-level coordination committees (SLCCs) and district-level coordination committees (DLCCs) have been formed nationwide to ensure secure conduct of examinations.According to the affidavit, 18 SLCCs and 621 DLCCs were operational by the time NEET-UG 2026 was conducted on May 3. These committees include officials from local administration, police, intelligence agencies, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the NTA to improve surveillance and coordination during examinations.The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter soon.