India's Supreme Court reviews shift of NEET exam to online format

The Supreme Court of India said it will take a final decision on moving the NEET‑UG medical entrance exam to an online model after examining the recommendations of a high‑level committee chaired by technology expert Nandan Neelakani. The court highlighted the need for additional cyber‑security and data‑protection measures before any transition. The matter arose after the May 3 2026 NEET paper was alleged to have been leaked, prompting the National Testing Agency to cancel the original test, conduct a re‑exam on June 21, and launch a criminal investigation by the CBI. Attorney General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the Prime Minister had appointed the committee, which includes former officials from the IB, IIT Madras and other fields, and the next hearing is scheduled for August 3.

Separately, political observers, citing local activist Akshith Suvarna, claim the Congress party is exploiting the exam controversy for political gain by invoking student names in protests. Government officials maintain that steps are being taken to improve transparency and trust in the NEET testing process.