India advances NEET reforms through new laws and Nilekani panel

India is pursuing structural reforms for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) following a 2026 paper leak scandal that led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. To deter fraud, the government has implemented the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, which increases penalties for examination crime. Individuals facing charges for unfair means can face five to 10 years of imprisonment and fines up to ₹50 lakh, while organized crime penalties include a minimum of seven years in prison and fines reaching ₹10 crore.

In addition to legal deterrents, a high-powered panel led by Nandan Nilekani is working on institutional reforms. The Centre informed the Supreme Court that this panel is expected to submit an interim report by the end of the month. The court has emphasized the need for the institutionalization of the testing process, suggesting that a permanent structure with dedicated staff is essential for security and stability. Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe have expressed interest in visiting the upgraded National Testing Agency (NTA) facilities to evaluate the current system.