The Indian government has informed the Supreme Court that it has introduced a comprehensive set of reforms to strengthen the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), with the objective of preventing question paper leaks and addressing systemic weaknesses in the examination process.
In a compliance affidavit submitted before a bench led by Justice P. S. Narasimha, the Ministry of Education stated that the reforms are intended to establish a robust and institutionalized examination framework capable of preserving institutional knowledge, enhancing security measures, and reducing the risk of future malpractice.
The affidavit was filed in response to the Supreme Court’s directive issued on May 29, which sought details on how future NEET examinations would be conducted and how regulatory authorities intended to retain institutional experience to improve examination management over time.
The government clarified that although the Ministry of Education oversees the National Testing Agency (NTA), the agency conducts NEET on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which serves as the examination-indenting authority. It also noted that the affidavit did not address the merits of the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
The government told the Supreme Court it has implemented comprehensive reforms, including AI- and blockchain-based security measures, to strengthen NEET examinations and prevent future paper leaks.
Stronger Legal Framework Targets Examination Fraud
According to the affidavit, Parliament has reinforced the legal framework governing examination integrity through the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026. The legislation expands upon the 2024 law that criminalized offenses such as question paper leaks, impersonation, computer system tampering, and other examination-related misconduct.
The government indicated that the amendments demonstrate its commitment to imposing stricter penalties on individuals involved in compromising public examinations. Under the revised law, offenders may face prison sentences of up to 10 years along with fines of as much as $112,000.
Officials also informed the court that a High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) on Examination Reforms has been established to recommend structural improvements and modernize the administration of public examinations.
The affidavit stated that the task force, constituted on July 27 and chaired by Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani, has been given three months to submit recommendations covering end-to-end examination reforms. The government indicated that the panel would focus on the use of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to improve examination security and operational integrity.
Multi-Layered Security Protocol Introduced
To reduce the possibility of future breaches, the National Testing Agency has implemented a new 10-stage security protocol described as a fortress-style model.
The affidavit stated that the translation stage of question paper preparation has been strengthened through the use of offline, air-gapped artificial intelligence systems for initial drafting. Human intervention is limited to verification, reducing exposure during one of the most sensitive phases of examination preparation.
Every question paper and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheet now carries a unique serial number linked to an individual candidate, allowing greater traceability throughout the examination process.
In addition, examination materials are packaged using six layers of tamper-evident protection, including steel trunks secured with single-use locks that must be physically cut open before access is granted.
The National Testing Agency has introduced a 10-stage security framework featuring offline AI systems, candidate-specific question papers and OMR sheets, and six-layer tamper-evident packaging to strengthen examination integrity.
Reforms Follow Earlier Paper Leak Controversies
The latest measures follow concerns surrounding alleged paper leaks during previous NEET examinations. The NTA canceled the examination conducted on May 3 after allegations of a paper leak emerged and subsequently organized a re-examination on June 21.
The Supreme Court had earlier declined to cancel the 2024 NEET examination despite allegations of leaked question papers but issued several directions aimed at improving examination security and establishing standards for determining when public examinations should be canceled.
During hearings held in May, the court observed that the NTA had not sufficiently learned from earlier incidents and sought responses from the central government, the NTA, and the CBI regarding petitions seeking the replacement of the testing agency with a more autonomous organization responsible for conducting the medical entrance examination.
The reforms form part of a broader effort to establish a more resilient examination system by combining stronger legislation, institutional oversight, and advanced technologies to safeguard the credibility of India’s largest medical entrance examination.
