Major Changes Introduced After NEET Paper Leak Controversy
After facing massive criticism over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed the Supreme Court that it has introduced several strict reforms and security measures to make the medical entrance examination more transparent and secure.
The agency submitted an affidavit before the apex court detailing new systems implemented for NEET-UG 2026 after recommendations made by a High-Powered Steering Committee formed following last year’s controversy.
The NEET paper leak row had triggered protests across the country and raised serious concerns about the credibility of India’s largest medical entrance examination.
CCTV Footage To Be Stored For 90 Days
One of the biggest changes announced by the NTA is mandatory preservation of CCTV footage from all examination centres for at least 90 days.
The agency said examination centres were also instructed to conduct mock drills before the exam to check preparedness and identify security loopholes in advance.
Officials added that centres were required to maintain proper electricity backup, emergency medical facilities and contingency plans in case of bad weather or technical disruptions during the examination.
Forensic Analysis Of Exam Centres Recommended
The NTA informed the court that post-exam forensic analysis of CCTV footage has also been recommended to detect suspicious activity or irregular behaviour that may not be noticed during live monitoring.
According to the agency, these measures are aimed at preventing cheating, improving transparency and restoring public trust in the examination system.
NEET-UG 2026 was conducted on May 3 under heightened security arrangements across the country.
NTA Undergoes Major Internal Restructuring
The examination body also revealed that it has started a large-scale restructuring exercise within the organisation.
As part of the changes, 16 new senior-level posts, including Director and Joint Director positions, have been created to strengthen exam management and digital security.
The NTA said experts from IITs, CBSE, UGC, IGNOU and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan have also been brought in to improve security systems and examination operations.
Future NEET Exams May Shift To CBT Mode
The affidavit further stated that discussions are underway on whether future NEET examinations should continue in pen-and-paper mode or gradually shift to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
The final decision will reportedly be taken after consultations with the Health Ministry and expert committees.
State And District Committees Formed For Coordination
To improve coordination during national-level exams, the NTA said State-Level Coordination Committees and District-Level Coordination Committees have been formed across India.
These committees include officials from district administration, police departments, intelligence agencies and technical teams.
According to the agency, 18 State-Level and 621 District-Level committees were operational during NEET-UG 2026.
