Supreme Court Directs Investigation into NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak; Questions NTA on Nature of Leak

The Supreme Court of India began hearing several petitions related to the alleged irregularities in the NEET Undergraduate exam administered on May 5, 2024. The hearing, conducted by a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, focused on the demand for a re-test following concerns of a compromised exam.

In response to the pleas, both the Central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) emphasized that cancelling the exam could negatively impact thousands of deserving candidates. They stressed the need for concrete evidence of extensive malpractices.

The Supreme Court, looking to uncover the extent of the breach, inquired about the nature and spread of the paper leak. It probed the NTA on specifics like the timeline between the leak and the actual test, urging clarity on the leak’s scope.

Furthermore, the Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to furnish a report on the progress of its inquiries before the next scheduled hearing on July 11. It also expressed interest in understanding the mechanisms through which vulnerable information was shared and distributed.