NEW DELHI, Oct 21: The Supreme Court on Monday granted a two-week extension to the Centre-appointed expert panel to submit its report on NEET-UG exam reforms. The seven-member committee, led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, was tasked with reviewing the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and recommending measures to enhance transparency and integrity in the NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate programs).
The court had initially set the August 2 deadline for the panel to submit its report but expanded the committee’s mandate to include a thorough review of the NTA’s operations, particularly focusing on the controversial NEET-UG exam. NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admission to undergraduate medical programs.
On Monday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, requested the extension before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, citing that the report was nearing completion. The bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, agreed to the request and granted the extension.
The Supreme Court had previously refused to annul the NEET-UG 2024 exam, stating that there was insufficient evidence of a systemic leak or malpractice that would undermine the integrity of the examination. However, the court flagged several serious lapses in the NTA’s handling of the exam, including a security breach at a Jharkhand exam centre, where unauthorized access to question papers was allowed, and issues with the transportation and distribution of exam materials.
The expert panel’s expanded mandate includes addressing examination security and administration, data protection, and technological upgrades. The panel will also explore stakeholder engagement, international collaboration, and recommend mental health support for students, as well as training for NTA staff.
In addition to Radhakrishnan, the panel includes experts such as Dr. Randeep Guleria, B J Rao, Ramamurthy K, Pankaj Bansal, Aditya Mittal, and Govind Jaiswal. Over 23 lakh students appeared for the 2024 NEET-UG, which determines admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and related courses across India.
