The Supreme Court refused on Monday to direct the National Testing Agency to conduct the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination in computer-based test mode, effectively ensuring the 21st June retest will proceed in the traditional pen-and-paper format. A bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Aravind Kumar deferred the matter until July after the court’s vacation, ruling out any immediate change to the examination format.
The petition filed by Rajya Sabha MP Sudhakar Singh originally sought sweeping reforms to the NEET examination system, including a shift to computer-based testing and the replacement of the NTA with an independent statutory examination authority. During Monday’s hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that only the prayer seeking the re-examination in CBT mode was being pressed. Justice Narasimha observed that similar pleas had already been dismissed in the past and pointed to the logistical difficulties involved in altering the format at this stage.
The bench noted the pressure on authorities handling the retest following the cancellation of the original examination. “You know what kind of problems we are having. The examination was cancelled, it is being reconducted,” Justice Narasimha observed, highlighting the challenges facing the NTA. The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on 3rd May, was annulled on 12th May after allegations of a large-scale paper leak emerged, prompting a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.
The petition called for a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning NEET to a fully digital examination system, including infrastructure creation, cybersecurity measures, examination-centre readiness and accessibility safeguards for candidates. It also sought the constitution of a high-level expert committee comprising a retired Supreme Court judge, educationists, cybersecurity specialists, forensic experts and administrators to recommend measures for securing national-level examinations. Additional demands included strict criminal action against individuals and organisations allegedly involved in paper leaks and organised cheating networks, besides a status report from the CBI on the ongoing probe.
With the court’s decision to adjourn the matter to July, lakhs of medical aspirants across the country will now prepare for the re-examination scheduled for 21st June in the traditional pen-and-paper format. The NTA has announced that the retest timing has been extended by 15 minutes, with the examination now scheduled from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM. Candidates who took the NEET registration 2026 do not need to pay fees to appear for the retest, with the refund facility extended until 22nd June.
