New Delhi, August 19: The Supreme Court has called for institutionalising reforms in India’s national examination system, stressing that examination integrity cannot depend on ad-hoc arrangements or individual officers.
The observations came during the hearing of petitions concerning reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the integrity of NEET-UG, following the paper-leak controversy.
The Bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe questioned the Union Government on whether NTA had actually created the infrastructure, manpower, cybersecurity systems and specialised verticals envisaged for securing national examinations.
The Court cited the UPSC as an example of an institution that has built expertise and institutional memory through continuous professional functioning.
The Bench also stressed that institutional knowledge must survive the transfer of individual officers and directed the Union Government to file an affidavit within three weeks detailing the implementation of recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, as developed by the Nandan Nilekani Committee, along with indicative timelines.
The United Doctors Front (UDF), one of the petitioners, has urged the Court to replace NTA with a Statutory National Examination Authority, established through an Act of Parliament.
UDF has proposed a permanent professional examination cadre with expertise in cybersecurity, psychometrics, digital forensics, examination administration, logistics and data security.
It has also called for an end-to-end, digitally auditable chain of custody for question papers, covering their creation, vetting, encryption, printing, storage and transportation.
The recommendations include secure digital transmission and controlled printing of examination papers, a time-bound transition to computer-based testing, mandatory certification and periodic security audits of examination centres.
UDF has further proposed CCTV surveillance, biometric candidate verification, independent cybersecurity and forensic audits, and a dedicated 24×7 National Examination Security and Incident Response mechanism.
The organisation has sought stronger accountability for paper setters, exam officials and private service providers handling confidential examination material, besides transparent grievance redressal and protection of students from institutional failures.
UDF said the problem is institutional rather than merely technological, arguing that CCTV cameras, GPS tracking, sealed boxes and security personnel cannot by themselves prevent repeated examination failures.
The organisation said the government has already listed several safeguards, including CCTV-monitored printing, GPS-enabled transportation, secure storage and videography, but the larger question is whether such measures have been permanently embedded in a capable institution.
UDF has also warned against another cycle of committees and recommendations without implementation, pointing out that the Radhakrishnan Committee had submitted 101 recommendations in 2024.
“Students need implementation, not merely recommendations,” the UDF said, reiterating that examinations affecting the future of millions of students require statutory accountability, professional expertise, institutional memory and independent oversight.
The organisation welcomed the Supreme Court’s scrutiny and said it would continue pressing for a secure, transparent and accountable national examination system.
