NEET-UG Leak: Live Updates From Supreme Court Hearing On Plea For NTA Reforms
The Supreme Court will hear petitions today seeking reforms to the National Testing Agency in the wake of recurring instances of NEET-UG paper leaks.A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe will hear the petitions filed by the United Doctors Front, Federation of All India Medical Associations and others seeking the disbanding of the NTA, and a robust oversight mechanism...
The Supreme Court will hear petitions today seeking reforms to the National Testing Agency in the wake of recurring instances of NEET-UG paper leaks.
A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe will hear the petitions filed by the United Doctors Front, Federation of All India Medical Associations and others seeking the disbanding of the NTA, and a robust oversight mechanism to prevent paper leaks.
Earlier, the Court had expressed that it will monitor the situation to institutionalise reforms, and to avoid ad-hocism.
J Narasimha: the biggest problem is that if you don't institutionalize, experienced persons get transferred. Then the whole experience goes. It must flow down to the next level and the next level so that they could pick up from the seniors. Institutional memory does not depend on individuals.
Order: we direct the secretary to file an affidavit indicating and detailed the steps that have been taken to implement the suggestions made by the Radhakrishnan committee as reflected and nuanced by the Nandan Nilekani committtee. Affidavit with the indicative timelines to be filed within 3 weeks.
Order: this court is concerned about institutionalization of 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 4 into and Reforms focusing on leverage in advance technology like AI and blockchain to strengthen the security and integrity of the examination.
Mehta: which one is more full proof human or purely digital is under consideration.
J Narasimha: Let the committee reflect on it and tell us.
Counsel: Radhakrishnan committee pointed out about transition to computer based model. It was done in 2024. Yet the affidapet mentions that CBT is under constituation. Committee a specific reference that the physical mode is one of the weakest links in the supply chain because it means transportation storage and printing. The Radhakrishnan committee says that the printing should be done and the at the same Centre the same day.
J Narasimha: you file your affidavit indicating what progress has been made on the basis of Radhakrishnan committee and the modifications that have been made by the new committee.
Mehta: the question bank of 500 is translated into 13 languages. We are not relying upon AI it is humanly done but there can be a possibility of breach. there was a breach and the people who were involved are arrested.
J Narasimha: where is the NTA situated now? Does it have physical infrastructure and manpower.
Court is told that NTA is setting up its on tech team with support from NIC and on boarding professional teams as well as indigenous AI models for translation of the question papers.
Mehta: we are implementing something is implemented already and whatever is the progress we will place before the court. Advertisements are issued for technology Officer Chief finance Officer General Manager for various descriptions.
J Narasimha: what is the sovereign software that you are developing?
Mehta: database is in contemplation.
J Narasimha: then the security of your question papers. Where are you going to store your storage is a big issue. So you need to develop that infrastructure and database ready.
Mehta: the government has accepted the Radhakrishnan committee's recommendation in toto.