The Supreme Court has directed the Union Ministry of Education to create lasting mechanisms of “institutional memory” and “institutional plurality” within the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The direction came while the Court heard a writ petition filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) after the cancellation of the NEET UG examination conducted on May 3. The examination was cancelled following serious systemic failures, including a paper leak.
A Bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe heard the matter.
Court Criticises Ad-Hoc Functioning
The Supreme Court strongly criticised the NTA’s administrative functioning. The Bench observed that ad-hoc arrangements and unclear accountability had weakened the examination system.
The Court stated that similar failures would continue unless authorities clearly assigned responsibility for maintaining examination integrity.
According to the Bench, uncertainty over institutional responsibility creates structural weaknesses and increases the risk of future failures.
Ministry of Education Asked to File Detailed Affidavit
The Court reviewed affidavits filed by the NTA Director and Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, who heads the screening committee.
The NTA Director explained how authorities implemented the recommendations of the High-Powered Committee (HPC). Dr. Radhakrishnan outlined both the implementation process and future reforms.
After examining these affidavits, the Court directed the Ministry of Education to file a comprehensive affidavit explaining how examinations will be conducted this year and in the future.
The Court also replaced the Health Ministry with the Ministry of Education as the concerned respondent in the case.
Focus on Institutional Memory and Expert Participation
The Bench instructed the Ministry to explain how it plans to preserve institutional memory through continuity in human resources.
It also asked the Ministry to describe how it would ensure institutional plurality through the inclusion of experts and stakeholders in decision-making processes.
The Court stressed that these measures should strengthen the NTA’s administrative and technical capacity.
Preventing Future Examination Failures
The Supreme Court made it clear that the objective of these reforms is to prevent a repeat of incidents that affected the 2024 and 2026 examinations.
The Court said the NTA must possess adequate physical infrastructure, technical resources, and intellectual capacity to conduct examinations securely and efficiently.
The proposed reforms should help the agency identify risks early and respond effectively to challenges.
Court Highlights Student Interests
The Bench emphasised that students should not suffer because of preventable institutional failures.
The Court noted that national-level competitive examinations affect the future of millions of candidates. It therefore stressed the need for strong systems, accountability, and transparent administration.
The judges indicated that examination authorities must place student welfare at the centre of all reforms.
Matter Listed for July Hearing
The Supreme Court has listed the matter for further hearing in the second week of July.
By then, the Ministry of Education must submit the detailed affidavit outlining the reforms and safeguards it intends to implement.
The Court will examine those proposals during the next hearing and assess whether they adequately address the concerns raised in the petition.
