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Supreme Court plans NTA office visit over paper leaks, says ‘lessons from past not learnt’
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Supreme Court plans NTA office visit over paper leaks, says ‘lessons from past not learnt’

The Supreme Court of India has announced plans to visit the National Testing Agency (NTA) offices to evaluate the effectiveness of recent reforms aimed at preventing examination irregularities, such as paper leaks. This decision comes amid concerns raised by petitioners following the NEET-UG 2026 exam scandal. The court emphasized the importance of institutionalizing these reforms, referencing previous recommendations from the K Radhakrishnan Committee after a similar issue in 2024. The government has formed a high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani, which is expected to submit its report by the end of the month. The court also directed the Department of Personnel and Training to provide updates on the task force's progress.

The Supreme Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to establish a permanent structure, including regular staff and a dedicated office, following a batch of petitions seeking reform in the wake of examination irregularities. The directive comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the agency's handling of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. The court emphasized the need for institutionalizing reforms, particularly after repeated issues in examinations. A bench led by Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe ordered the joint secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), who is supporting the High-Powered Task Force (HPTF), to file an affidavit detailing the committee’s progress. The HPTF, chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, is expected to submit its report by the end of the month. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the HPTF has made substantial progress, conducting wide-ranging consultations. He mentioned that a permanent office for the NTA and its senior officials has been established at Minto Road, secured by 39 CISF personnel. Recruitment efforts are currently underway for domain specialists in areas such as technology, human resources, assessment research, and information security. The court expressed concerns that lessons from past incidents, including the 2024 NEET-UG leak, had not been fully absorbed. It highlighted the recommendations of the K Radhakrishnan Committee, which proposed a Governing Board led by a domain expert. Advocates Tanvi Dubey and Charu Mathur argued that while recent changes have included civil servants in senior roles, the Radhakrishnan panel’s suggestion for a specialized board remains unimplemented. Petitioners, representing the Federation of All India Medical Association and the United Doctors Front, urged the HPTF to set a clear timeline for transitioning NEET exams from pen-and-paper to computer-based format. They pointed out that NEET-2027 is approaching. Mehta confirmed that the HPTF is aware of the issue and has taken all suggestions into consideration. The court also planned a visit to the NTA office to evaluate the effectiveness of the new system, emphasizing the importance of secure data management and stable staffing arrangements.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

2 reports

Hindustan Times logoHindustan TimesIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 88
Supreme Court plans NTA office visit over paper leaks, says ‘lessons from past not learnt’

The Supreme Court of India has announced plans to visit the National Testing Agency (NTA) offices to evaluate the effectiveness of recent reforms aimed at preventing examination irregularities, such as paper leaks. This decision comes amid concerns raised by petitioners following the NEET-UG 2026 exam scandal. The court emphasized the importance of institutionalizing these reforms, referencing previous recommendations from the K Radhakrishnan Committee after a similar issue in 2024. The government has formed a high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani, which is expected to submit its report by the end of the month. The court also directed the Department of Personnel and Training to provide updates on the task force's progress.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the Supreme Court's actions and the government's efforts to reform the NTA. There is no evident bias in the language or framing; the content remains neutral, focusing on procedural steps and institutional reforms without favoring any particular side.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the Supreme Court's planned visit to the NTA office and mentions the formation of the HPTF led by Nandan Nilekani. It includes specific details such as the names of the judges, the direction given to the joint secretary of DoPT, and statements from Solicitor General Tu

Why objectivity (88): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, presenting facts without overt bias or emotional language. It quotes officials and provides procedural details without apparent editorializing or favoring any particular viewpoint.

Deccan Herald logoDeccan HeraldIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 85
‘Permanent structure’: SC directs NTA to have regular staff, permanent office

The Supreme Court of India has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to establish a permanent structure with regular staff and a fixed office. This decision comes in response to a series of petitions, including one filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association, which sought reforms following controversies related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The court's directive aims to ensure greater stability and accountability in the administration of such critical examinations.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a judicial directive aimed at institutional reform, presenting the legal action and the concerns raised by medical associations without overtly favoring any political side. It provides the context of the issue but does not exhibit clear framing that would indicate a particular

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (85): The article remains largely objective, focusing on the legal directives and structural changes required for NTA. While it does mention the Federation of All India Medical Association as a petitioner, it doesn't take a stance or provide biased commentary.

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