Reforms at NTA must be enduring, says SC; criticizes 'hopping from panel to panel'
The Supreme Court emphasized the need for institutionalizing reforms within the National Testing Agency (NTA) to prevent a "knee-jerk reaction" to crises like the NEET-UG 2026 paper leaks. A Bench led by Justice P.S. Narasimha questioned the Centre's approach of forming new committees, like the Nandan Nilekani-led task force, without implementing recommendations from previous panels, such as the K. Radhakrishnan committee. The court stressed the importance of "vibrant, institutionalised" reforms with "institutional memory" to ensure continuity and address systemic problems effectively, rather than shifting officers and undoing reforms after each exam.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court stressed the need for institutionalized and enduring reforms within the National Testing Agency (NTA).
- The court criticized the government's tendency to form new committees without fully implementing recommendations from previous ones.
- Justice P.S. Narasimha highlighted the importance of "institutional memory" and continuity in reforms to address systemic issues.
- The NTA is under scrutiny following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leaks, leading to the formation of a new task force.
Exam Facts
- National Testing Agency (NTA) is under Supreme Court scanner due to NEET-UG 2026 paper leaks.
- A previous seven-member committee was headed by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan.
- A new "task force" is chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.
- The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act of 2026 was hailed by the Centre.
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