Supreme Court seeks NTA report on steps to implement NEET exam reforms
Supreme Court asks NTA to detail steps and timelines for implementing NEET reforms recommended by the Radhakrishnan and Nandan Nilekani committees
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 19) asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide an account of steps taken to put proposed NEET examination reforms into effect. The court issued the order stressing the need to institutionalise the reforms regarding the NEET examination.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to submit an affidavit on action taken on recommendations from the Radhakrishnan Committee and the Nandan Nilekani committee.
Court seeks action on NEET reforms
The top court was hearing a batch of petitions, including one filed by advocate Tanvi Dubey on behalf of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA).
"The Radhakrishnan Committee has correctly said it is a systemic problem which needs institutionalisation, which is the most important part of it. This process on paper everything is good. But then one exam happens, and by the time the second exam happens it is a new picture altogether," stated the bench.
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Describing the safeguards used from printing NEET question papers until their delivery to candidates, Mehta told the court that the arrangements make the examination system hard to breach.
NTA pressed on safeguards
He said several moderators prepare questions for a question bank without knowing which questions will enter the examination paper. Vehicles transporting NEET question papers have GPS, and movements are recorded, added Mehta.
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"This court is concerned about institutionalisation of the National Testing Agency with all necessary infrastructure, manpower and other Technological capabilities. We are informed that the committee which has been constituted has considered various recommendations for reforms, focusing on leveraging advance technology like AI and blockchain to strengthen the security and integrity of the examination,” stated the order as quoted by Live Law.
“We direct the Secretary to file an affidavit indicating and detailing the steps that have been taken to implement the suggestions made by the Radhakrishnan committee as reflected and nuanced by the Nandan Nilekani committee. Affidavit with the indicative timelines to be filed within 3 weeks,” it added.
The backdrop
The Ministry of Education constituted the seven-member Radhakrishnan Committee after the NEET-UG paper leak. Its mandate covered the examination process, data security and NTA functioning.
The government formed a task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani on NEET reforms.
(With agency inputs)