Shift to computer-based NEET-UG 2027 still under ‘active consideration’, Govt. tells SC

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The Supreme Court of India. | Photo Credit: Subramanium S.

After the 2026 question paper leaks and with NEET-UG 2027 just months away, the Union government told the Supreme Court on Friday (September 18, 2026) that a switch from the written examination to computer-based mode is still under "active consideration" and “something will have to be done”.

Appearing before a Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who also represents the National Testing Agency (NTA), was responding to a petitioner’s argument that the government must clarify the examination mode for NEET-UG 2027.

Mr. Mehta responded that both the government and the High-Powered Task Force chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani were “cognisant” of the issue.

“It is nearing the next exam. Something will have to be done. It is under active consideration,” Mr. Mehta stated. The court directed the Nilekani task force to file an affidavit within two weeks.

Towards the end of the hearing, Justice Narasimha remarked that reforms would “take about a year to become entrenched… Filling up of posts, various verticals, specialised personnel, infrastructure, digitisation, transition from written to digital exam”.

The NTA has been under the Supreme Court’s scanner since the 2026 leaks, which left nearly 23 lakh students stranded, led to protests and violence in the national capital, and, ultimately, the resignation of the then Education Minister.

The task force was formed by the government to recommend technological reforms to make the conduct of public examinations under the NTA leak-proof.

In May 2026, an NTA affidavit confirmed that the agency was ready to change to the computer-based test (CBT) mode the following year. The agency had noted that a High-Level Committee of Experts (HLCE) had recommended the move.

“The transition will be implemented from the next examination cycle in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (the client Ministry for NEET-UG) — thereby bringing all major NTA examinations onto the CBT platform,” the affidavit had said.

More recently, the government and the NTA were of the opinion in court to take the “final approach” to CBT mode only after considering the recommendations of the Nilekani task force. Mr. Mehta said the task force may submit the report by the end of September 2026. The top law officer said the Nilekani task force had already held consultations with the chairman of the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) on NTA Reforms, Dr. K. Radhakrishnan. The HPSC had been constituted earlier to suggest measures for a comprehensive “clean-up” of systemic issues haunting the conduct of NEET-UG examinations.

“But we are still concerned. Today, there are only committees. When are their recommendations going to be implemented on the ground?” Justice Narasimha asked the law officer.

Mr. Mehta agreed that the Nilekani committee was only the “starting point” on the road to reforms.

Justice Narasimha said the judges intended to come to the NTA offices personally to monitor its functioning. “We will come there one day. Myself and my brother. We will come and see if the system is actually working, whether there is enough manpower… We will drop in and see,” Justice Narasimha said.

The court said the NTA should have structural stability through permanent offices and staff. At least half of its workforce must be permanent employees rather than deputed officials. The court said that the senior leadership must be drawn from diverse specialised services to build strong institutional memory, ensuring that the reforms persist even after officials are transferred out. The Bench said consultations with domain experts were an essential part of reform.

The court recorded in its order that the NTA was “transitioning from exam-specific units to functional vertical structure to build specialised domain-specific capabilities across core operational areas”.

The order referred to a government affidavit that said the NTA leadership had been “upgraded” with a secretary-level officer as its Director-General. Open recruitments were underway to recruit specialists in its various departments, including security, human resources and research and development.

The order recorded that the NTA’s senior leadership was drawn from IAS, IPS and other Central services. The court noted that the agency’s confidential operations have been relocated to a dedicated 55,000 sq. ft. government facility at Minto Road in the national capital, which was secured by CISF personnel with advanced screening equipment.

The court scheduled the next hearing in three weeks.

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