New Delhi: Observing that courts cannot replace the opinion of subject experts unless an answer is clearly and demonstrably wrong, the Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with the final answer key of NEET UG 2026 examination.

Justice Jasmeet Singh dismissed a petition filed by 17-year-old NEET candidate, who challenged the answer to Question No. 150 of the Biology section in Test Booklet Code 80.

The court said the National Testing Agency (NTA) had placed objections raised by candidates against the provisional answer key before a panel of subject experts from leading institutions at the national level. After examining the objections, the experts found no reason to change the disputed answer in the final answer key.

"Therefore, the final answer key has been duly approved by renowned subject experts. This Court does not have, and cannot have, the expertise to adjudicate upon the opinions and conclusions of subject experts. Unless the answers determined by the experts are demonstrably wrong, we have to accept their expert opinion," the bench remarked. 

Also read- SC refuses to entertain NEET 2026 OMR discrepancy plea, allows candidates to approach HC

The petitioner appeared for the NEET-UG re-examination held on June 21 after the original May 3 examination was cancelled. He scored 695 out of 720 marks and secured an All India Rank of 65.

The candidate challenged the answer marked as correct by the NTA for Question No. 150. He had selected Option 2, while the NTA considered Option 3 to be correct. As a result, he lost five marks, four marks for the correct answer and one mark due to negative marking.

He argued that the question had more than one correct answer and that the answer accepted by the NTA was scientifically incorrect.

The NTA opposed the petition, stating that his objection had already been examined by a panel of subject experts. The panel found the objection without merit and therefore retained the answer in the final answer key.

While dismissing the petition, the court reiterated that judicial review of an examination answer key is limited to cases where there is a patent error and the answer is clearly shown to be incorrect on the basis of the record.

The court also rejected the petitioner's request to constitute a fresh committee of subject experts to examine whether the answer provided by the NTA's expert panel was correct.

It observed as quoted by Live Law, "However, I cannot agree with the same. In the present case, the question papers are set by subject experts. Thereafter, when the provisional answer key is issued, the objections received from the candidates are considered and examined by the subject experts of respondent No. 1."

The court further observed that changes are made to the final answer key only when subject experts, after examining the objections, find sufficient merit in them.

The court ordered, "Considering the facts of the present case, there is no doubt that the petitioner is an extremely promising, intelligent and hardworking student, but on the facts stated above, this Court cannot come to his aid and can only express its sympathy. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed along with the pending applications."

New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced the schedule for the Final (Mop-up) Round of online centralised merit-based counselling for admission to Post Diploma DNB seats for the 2026 admission session.

According to the notice issued by the NBE in this regard, the board has decided to conduct the mop-up round in continuation of its June 22 notice and in accordance with Chapter 3 of the counselling handbook for Post Diploma DNB seats.

Also Read: NBE invites applications for accreditation in DNB, DrNB, FNB courses July to November 2026 cycle, details

The round will begin with choice filling from August 21, 2026, and the allotment result will be declared on August 27, 2026. Below is the detailed schedule-

SCHEDULE

NBEMS has advised eligible candidates to complete their choice filling within the stipulated timeline, as the allotment process will begin immediately thereafter.

NBEMS has cautioned candidates that those who are allotted a seat in the mop-up round but fail to join the allotted institution by September 1, 2026, will lose their Post Diploma DNB seat. In such cases, the first-year course fee will also be forfeited.

The Board has clarified that only candidates who are already registered for counselling and have not been allotted any seat in either Round 1 or Round 2 will be eligible to participate in the Final Mop-Up Round.

Candidates have been advised to refer to the relevant counselling handbook for detailed eligibility conditions and other instructions.

Meanwhile, NBEMS will publish the seat matrix for the Final Mop-Up Round before the commencement of the round. This matrix will indicate the Post Diploma DNB seats available for allotment during the final counselling stage.

Candidates have also been advised to carefully go through the flow chart explaining the allotment process for Post Diploma DNB seats in the Final Mop-Up Round before participating in counselling.

Moreover, NBEMS has also issued an important direction to participating hospitals. 

"The hospitals are strictly advised to ensure that the joining/resignation of the candidate are up to date at counseling portal https://hadmin.nbe.edu.in/pdcetadmin/doLogin and if there is any candidate resigned before the commencement of Final (Mop-up) Round, the concerned hospital has to ensure that their resignation information are updated the above counseling portal on or before 20th August 2026 for inclusion of such seat in Final (Mopup) round of counseling. The hospital fails to update the resignation information of such candidates at the counseling portal shall lead to non-inclusion of such seat in the Final (Mop-up) round of counseling," it said

NEET PG 2026 selective edit window closes today, August 10. Candidates can make changes to their photograph, signature and thumb impression through the official NBEMS website. Check the steps to edit the application form and the complete NEET PG 2026 schedule here

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will close the selective edit window for the NEET PG 2026 application form today, August 10, 2026. Candidates who want to make changes to their photograph, signature, or thumb impression can use the facility until today. After the window closes, candidates will not be allowed to make changes to these details. To edit their application form, candidates need to visit the official NBEMS website, natboard.edu.in, log in using their user ID and password, and make the required changes.

What Can Be Edited During NEET PG Selective Edit Window?

Candidates are allowed to make changes to three particulars in their application form:

• Thumb impression
• Photograph
• Signature

These details are important for biometric authentication and identity verification. Candidates should ensure that the uploaded details meet the prescribed requirements to avoid any issues during the examination or at the examination centre.

How To Edit NEET PG Application Form?

Candidates can follow these steps to make the required changes:

1. Visit the official NBEMS website, natboard.edu.in.

2. Go to the NEET PG section on the homepage.

3. Click on the Application Link and then select Login.

4. Enter your user ID and password.

5. Open the NEET PG 2026 application form.

6. Make the required changes to your photograph, signature, or thumb impression.

7. Review the changes and submit the application form.

NEET PG 2026 Schedule

The NEET PG 2026 examination is scheduled to be conducted on August 30, 2026. The NEET PG city intimation slip is scheduled to be released on August 11, 2026, while the admit card will be issued on August 27, 2026.

Telangana: The Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), Telangana, has commenced the registration process for the NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates seeking admission to MBBS and BDS courses under the Competent Authority Quota for the academic year 2026-27.

The eligible candidates can submit their online applications and upload the required documents till 6:00 PM on August 12, 2026, through the official admission portal.

Online application forms without uploading the mandatory Certificates, passport-size photo, signature in the declaration area and incomplete applications will be automatically rejected and will not be considered for determining the Merit position in respective categories using NEET UG 2026 Rank.

Registration along with uploading of Scanned Original certificates will be done only once, irrespective of the number of counselling sessions. No separate notification will be issued for verification of original certificates. Therefore, the candidates should register and upload all the mandatory Certificates without fail.

According to the notification, the registration is meant only for determining the State Merit Position for web-based counselling under the Competent Authority Quota. The counselling will cover seats in Government Medical and Dental Colleges, as well as Category 'A' seats in private unaided non-minority and minority medical colleges and private dental colleges affiliated with KNRUHS. The university clarified that the detailed seat matrix and the total number of seats available under the quota will be published before the commencement of web options.

Candidates must have qualified in NEET UG 2026 by securing the prescribed cut-off scores. The minimum qualifying score is 213 for General/Unreserved/EWS candidates, 194 for General/EWS Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and 177 for SC, ST, BC and PwD candidates belonging to these categories. The tuition fee for the academic year 2026-27 will be notified separately by the Government of Telangana.

REGISTRATION AND PROCESSING FEE

1 Candidates are advised to carefully read the Prospectus, University Regulations, relevant Government Orders (G.Os.), and the eligibility conditions prescribed in this notification before proceeding with the payment of the Registration and Processing Fee. The Registration and Processing Fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Therefore, candidates should ensure that they fulfil all eligibility criteria before making the payment, uploading relevant documents and submitting the online application.

2 The registration and processing fee has been fixed at Rs 4,000 for OC and BC candidates and Rs 3,200 for SC and ST candidates.

ELIGIBILITY

The candidates who have qualified in NEET UG 2026 by securing cut-off marks or above have to apply to determine the State Merit position for Competent Authority Quota seats, subject to the conditions specified in the admission Regulations/Prospectus for the AY 2026-27.

A candidate for admission into undergraduate courses under Competent Authority Quota in Telangana should be an Indian National, Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder (PIO/OCI status issued before 04-03-2021) and shall fulfil the following provisions in G.O.Ms.No. 33, Health, Medical and Family Welfare (C1) Department, Date: 19.07.2024 and G.O.Ms.No. 150, Health, Medical and Family Welfare (C1) Department, Date: 08.09.2025.

1 If the candidate has studied in an Educational Institution in such local area for a period of not less than 4 consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which he appeared or as the case may be, first appeared in the relevant qualifying examination.

Or

2 Where during the whole or any part of the four consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which he appeared or as the case may be, first appeared for the relevant qualifying examination, he has not studied in Educational Institutions, if he has resided in that local area for a period of not less than four years immediately preceding the date of commencement of the relevant qualifying examination which he appeared or as the case may be first appeared.

3 Local area herein means the State of Telangana. Further, in case the candidate has not studied in any educational institution and has resided in the local area as stated at 2 above, to be eligible for admission into undergraduate courses under Competent Authority Quota, the candidate should have appeared for the relevant qualifying examination in the State of Telangana.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION

1 NEET UG-2026 Score Card (Mandatory).

2 Birth Certificate (SSC/10th Class Marks Memo) (Mandatory).

3 Qualifying Exam Certificate (Intermediate/10+2 Marks Memo OR Equivalent – Grade Certificate not Accepted) (Mandatory).

4 Study Certificates from 9th & 10th (If a single certificate, upload the same for all years as a PDF file) (Mandatory).

5 Study Certificates – Intermediate or equivalent for 2 Years (If a single certificate, upload the same for all years as a PDF file) (Mandatory).

6 Transfer Certificate (Intermediate/10+2) (Mandatory).

7 Community Certificate (if applicable).

8 Minority Certificate.

9 Income and Asset Certificate for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) valid for the year 2026-27.

10 Specimen signature of the candidate.

11 Candidate’s latest passport size photo.

13 Candidates who have not studied in any Educational Institutions have to submit residence certificate of the candidate for 4 years period immediately preceding the qualifying examination (Dates of period to be specified) (If applicable).

14 Anglo Indian Certificate (If applicable).

15 Certificate of employment from the Competent Authority for the candidate’s father/mother’s service outside the State for the period corresponding to the candidate’s year/s of study outside Telangana.

16 Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) certificate.

17 Police Martyrs Children (PMC) Certificate (If applicable).

18 Children of Armed Personnel (CAP) certificate.

19 National Cadet Corps (NCC) Certificate (If more than one certificate, scan all into a single PDF file) (If applicable).

20 Latest Parental Income Certificate (If applicable).

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

In accordance with NMC Regulations, the candidate should have passed Intermediate (10+2 pattern) or its equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology) / Biotechnology and English.

1 OC/EWS candidates should obtain not less than 50% marks in science subjects.

2 BC/SC/ST candidates should obtain not less than 40% marks in science subjects.

3 OC/EWS PWD candidates should obtain not less than 45% marks in science subjects.

AGE

The candidate should have completed 17 years of age as on 31-12-2026. The candidates who do not complete 17 years as on 31-12-2026 need not apply for the counselling. The above age criteria are applicable to all candidates of all categories.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 1 registration is open for MBBS and BDS admissions. Eligible candidates can apply until August 12 and must complete fee payment and document verification.

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has opened the registration for the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) for MBBS and BDS admissions for 2026-27. Eligible candidates can apply until August 12, 2026.

Admissions to government, government-aided, municipal, private unaided and other notified medical and dental colleges will be based on the NEET UG 2026 merit.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 1: Important dates

• Online registration and application: August 6 to August 12, 2026, till 11:59 PM
• Registration fee payment: August 6 to August 13, 2026, till 11:59 PM
• Document upload: August 6 to August 13, 2026, till 11:59 PM
• Document verification: August 7 to August 14, 2026
• Registered candidates list: August 15, 2026
• Provisional merit list: August 15, 2026

Only students who have qualified for NEET UG 2026 for MBBS or BDS are allowed to take part in this counselling process.

Candidates must complete the registration online and upload all required documents in the correct format. They should also check the application form carefully to make sure all information is accurate.

Students choosing physical document verification must visit the assigned centre on the given date with their original documents.

“It will be the sole responsibility of the candidate to upload all the necessary documents within the given period; failure to upload the requisite documents within the given schedule may lead to non-granting of the claim or cancellation of the form,” the official notice states.

Candidates should visit the official website for complete instructions and further updates.

Candidates seeking admission under the 85% state quota will also have to register separately on the respective state counselling portals, as state counselling is conducted separate to that of the MCC process.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Registration: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has begun the NEET UG Counselling 2026 registrations on August 5. NEET-UG counselling is conducted by the MCC for admissions under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ), deemed universities, central universities, ESIC, AFMS, AIIMS, JIPMER and other participating institutions. Candidates who have qualified the NEET UG 2026 can register online through the official website at mcc.nic.in.

The MCC counselling portal (mcc.nic.in) will host the registration, choice filling, seat allotment and reporting schedules, while the National Testing Agency’s NEET website (neet.nta.nic.in) and NEET candidate portal (examinationservices.nic.in) can be used to access scorecards, application details and examination records.

Candidates seeking admission under the 85% state quota will also have to register separately on the respective state counselling portals, as state counselling is conducted independently of the MCC process.

A total of 2,73,183 candidates have registered for NEET-PG 2026, an increase of over 12.5 per cent compared to the previous year.

Candidates appearing for NEET-PG 2026 will get more time to answer each question and are likely to be allotted examination centres closer to home, as the Centre rolls out a series of reforms aimed at making the test more candidate-friendly and secure.

Union health minister JP Nadda on Sunday reviewed the preparedness for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2026, scheduled to be held on August 30.

A total of 2,73,183 candidates have registered for NEET-PG 2026, an increase of over 12.5 per cent compared to the previous year. The examination will be conducted in a single shift across around 340 cities and more than 1,300 examination centres.

Centres closer to candidates' homes

One of the key changes this year is in the allotment of examination centres. Candidates will have to indicate three state preferences, with their correspondence state being the mandatory first preference. The move is aimed at helping candidates get centres closer to their place of residence

The test city intimation slip will also be issued nearly three weeks before the examination, giving candidates more time to plan their travel and accommodation.

The examination pattern has also been revised. NEET-PG 2026 will now consist of 180 questions to be answered in 210 minutes, giving candidates more time per question while keeping the overall duration of the examination unchanged.

Stronger authentication, security measures

To strengthen the integrity of the examination, the government has introduced Aadhaar-based authentication during both the application process and on the examination day.

In cases where fingerprint authentication is unsuccessful, iris-based biometric verification will be used.

Reviewing the security arrangements, Nadda was briefed on measures including advance sealing and verification of examination centres, CCTV surveillance, biometric authentication, candidate frisking, deployment of signal jammers, dynamic computer allocation, live monitoring through central and regional command centres, and real-time supervision by independent observers and appraisers.

According to the agency, 13 people have been chargesheeted so far, including National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts, coaching institute operators, intermediaries and a medical practitioner. The CBI has also frozen several bank accounts, lockers and a demat account while tracing the money trail.
According to the agency, 13 people have been chargesheeted so far, including National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts, coaching institute operators, intermediaries and a medical practitioner. The CBI has also frozen several bank accounts, lockers and a demat account while tracing the money trail.
 

CBI Points to Internal Lapses in Paper-Setting Process
According to the CBI, three NTA subject experts allegedly had access to the question papers while also being responsible for translating them into Marathi. The accused include Chemistry expert Kulkarni, Physics expert Havaldar and Biology expert Mandhare.
The Week reported that the CBI noted this made the 2026 NEET issue less of a "leak" and more of a serious internal lapse by the National Testing Authority (NTA), as compared to 2024, where a centre in-charge allegedly conspired with the leak racket to steal and circulate question paper sets.
Investigators said that although the experts were kept in a sanitised environment as required under NTA rules, they were allegedly allowed to leave the secure zone from where they would go to their homes, take tuition classes, and return for their duties the next day.
The agency believes this gave them enough time to memorise the questions and later recreate them from memory. CBI officials have reportedly informed the NTA that the 2026 incident appeared to be less of a conventional paper theft and more of a serious internal failure in the examination process.
According to the first chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the NEET question paper was never circulated in digital form outside a tightly controlled network. Instead, select students were allegedly made to write down questions during special coaching sessions conducted by three subject experts of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
 

Questions Allegedly Shared Through Coaching Sessions
The CBI alleges that instead of circulating the original question paper digitally, the three subject experts dictated questions to small batches of students during private coaching sessions. Students were reportedly asked to write down the questions by hand so that no electronic evidence would be created. The agency has seized these handwritten notes during the investigation.
"Their motive was to make money by assuring students they would help them crack the exam while simultaneously enhancing the reputation of their coaching network. Better results would attract more students and, ultimately, more money," a source told The Print.
According to the chargesheet, the questions were initially shared only with selected students who were allegedly told they were "very important" questions without being informed that they were the actual NEET examination questions.
According to the source, the leak became a large-scale commercial operation only after Waghmare reconstructed the question paper after she got hold of the students.
"She tracked down two of the students who had attended these coaching sessions and got them to type out the questions at her shop. She then reconstructed the entire paper and sold it to a person in Pune for Rs 10 lakh. That person allegedly passed it on to Nashik, where it was sold again for Rs 10-15 lakh," the source said.
 

"Once the paper got out, its value kept increasing. That is how the chain expanded until it eventually reached the Bilwal family in Rajasthan," the source added.
"If Waghmare had not reconstructed and circulated the paper, the leak would likely have remained confined to the select study groups coached by the three NTA subject experts, and no one would have discovered it," one of the sources said.
Leak Spread Across Several States
The reconstructed paper was allegedly passed through multiple intermediaries before reaching students in different states. According to the CBI, Waghmare worked with co-accused Lokhande to distribute the reconstructed questions through messaging platforms, including WhatsApp.
The paper allegedly travelled from Maharashtra to Rajasthan, Haryana and Kerala, turning the case into what investigators described as a "countrywide conspiracy."
Another route described in the chargesheet states that the reconstructed paper moved from Lokhande to Nashik- based middleman Khairnar before reaching Rajasthan through Telegram.
 

Money Trail Under Investigation
The CBI alleged that Kulkarni earned at least Rs 21 lakh by leaking examination questions. The agency claimed that the reconstructed papers were sold through multiple intermediaries for amounts ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh.
Investigators have also traced an alleged Rs 5 lakh payment linked to the Latur-based coaching institute's wife, which was reportedly recovered from the residence of a member of the Shirure family.
Who First Alerted Authorities About the Leak?
According to the CBI, the first indication of the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak did not come from an investigating agency, but from a chemistry teacher in Rajasthan, as reported by Indian Express.
The agency found that on May 7, a chemistry teacher from Sikar emailed the National Testing Agency (NTA) after discovering that solved NEET question papers had allegedly been circulating before the examination.
In his email, the teacher stated that on the evening of May 3, shortly after the NEET examination ended at 6 p.m., his landlord showed him two PDF files containing question papers and asked him to compare them with the actual NEET paper.
After checking the papers, he found that the questions matched the examination paper. He then asked his colleagues to independently verify the match before reporting the matter to the NTA.

When he asked where the PDFs had come from, his landlord reportedly said that he had received them on WhatsApp from his son, a first-year MBBS student studying in Kerala.
According to the CBI, the student told his father that he had received the files on May 2 from another student who shared a room with him. The email further traced the chain to a man who allegedly demanded Rs 40,000 for the leaked paper but later agreed to Rs 30,000, which was reportedly paid through PhonePe.
The email also alleged that 450 solved questions and answers were shared at around 11 p.m. on May 2, just hours before the NEET UG examination. According to the CBI, this suggests that the alleged leaked questions had already reached students and intermediaries at least a day before the exam was conducted.

The NTA declared NEET UG 2026 results on July 16, 2026. Only 1,492 candidates scored 650+ marks. This score provides strong admission prospects at premier institutes such as AIIMS New Delhi, MAMC, and Safdarjung Hospital. Candidates can check the full list below

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the NEET 2026 result on July 16, 2026. As per the data, only 19 candidates have scored above 700 marks, and the candidates who have scored above 650 marks have a very good chance of getting into a top-tier government college in All India Quota (AIQ).
As per the official release by NTA, a total of 138 candidates scored above 690 marks out of 720, and a total of 1,492 candidates scored 650 and above. This is the strong position which will allow candidates to secure a seat in the most prestigious institutes, like AIIMS New Delhi or MAMC.

NEET 2026: Marks Vs Number of Students

In 2026, the result was tighter, as compared to the previous years. Topper has scored 715 out of 720 was obtained jointly by Aryan Gupta (Punjab) and Panshul Bansal (Haryana). Candidates can check the details below

• 19 candidates scored above 700 out of 720
• 138 candidates scored above 690 out of 720
• 1,492 candidates scored 650 and above
• 10,160 candidates scored 600 and above
• 90,780 candidates scored 500 and above

NEET 2026: Top Colleges For 650 and Above Marks

As per the previous year's data analysis, top colleges comes under this marks range are AIIMS New Delhi, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, AIIMS Jammu, Govt Medical College, Kota, etc. Candidates can check the list below

The Supreme Court tagged a plea seeking NEET UG 2026 to be conducted in a computer-based mode with the pending batch of NTA reform petitions after the Centre informed it that a Nandan Nilekani-led high-level committee had been constituted to examine examination reforms, cybersecurity and digital safeguards

The Supreme Court on Monday tagged a petition seeking that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) be conducted in a computer-based mode with the batch of pending petitions seeking structural reforms in the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) following the NEET paper leak controversy.

The Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said the plea raised important issues and directed that it be heard along with the other petitions already pending before the Court.

At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, informed the Bench that there had been significant developments since the matter was last considered. "There is a development. Your Lordships are examining some other petitions relating to the same issue," Mehta submitted.

The Bench responded that the present petition would be listed along with those matters.

Mehta suggested that the petitioners could intervene in the pending batch.

The Court, however, observed that while several petitions had not been entertained, the present matter raised substantial issues warranting consideration. "There are many petitions we have not entertained, but in this one certain good issues have been raised. We will post it along with that batch," Justice Narasimha remarked.

During the hearing, the Solicitor General informed the Court that the Central Government had constituted a high-level expert committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the NEET examination process. "It is my duty to point out that the Central Government has taken a very serious view and a high-level committee has been constituted. The Prime Minister has already declared it," Mehta submitted.

According to the Centre, the committee will be chaired by Nandan Nilekani and comprises former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, former Union Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and Amrit Lal Meena, who has expertise in logistics.

The Bench then turned its attention to the practical and technological challenges involved in shifting NEET from a pen-and-paper examination to a computer-based test.

Justice Narasimha observed that the transition would require the government to address several issues beyond merely digitising the examination.

"When the transition occurs from physical conduct to online, what additional safeguards need to be taken? How will the database be secured?" the Bench asked.

Responding to the Court's concerns, Mehta pointed to the composition of the expert committee.

"That is why we have Mr. Nilekani. He is an expert on the subject," the Solicitor General said.

The Bench, however, indicated that cybersecurity concerns extended beyond conducting the examination itself.

Justice Narasimha observed that data storage and protection would also require robust safeguards if the examination process were to move online.

"Data storage is also an issue," the Court remarked.

Taking note of the submissions, the Bench directed that the present petition be listed along with the batch of pending petitions concerning structural reforms in the NTA.

The matter is now scheduled to be heard along with the connected cases on Monday, i.e. August 3.

About the PIL 

The plea filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh through AoR Neema seeks directions to conduct the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) [NEET UG] 2026 re-examination through the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode, contending that the existing pen-and-paper system has repeatedly failed to safeguard the integrity of the country's largest medical entrance examination.

The petition seeks urgent intervention from the top court to direct the Union of India and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to adopt a secure digital examination architecture and technological safeguards to preserve the integrity of NEET UG.

According to the plea, the issue concerns the "fairness, transparency and credibility of the national medical admission process affecting more than 22 lakh medical aspirants, whose future admission to undergraduate medical courses is solely dependent upon NEET-UG."

The petition refers to the events surrounding NEET UG 2026, which was conducted on May 3, 2026, alleging that question papers and "guess papers" were circulated through digital platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram before the examination.

It states that the National Testing Agency cancelled the examination on May 12, 2026, after investigative inputs indicated that the integrity of the examination had been compromised.

"The cancellation of an examination affecting more than 22 lakh candidates demonstrates that the integrity of the examination process stood compromised and that the existing examination mechanism failed to preserve confidentiality and security of examination material," the plea states.

The petitioner argues that the controversy is not an isolated incident but part of a continuing pattern of examination security failures under the NTA.

The petitioner also argues that the NTA has already demonstrated its capability to conduct nationwide examinations through CBT mode by successfully holding JEE (Main) 2026 across 584 examination centres in 319 cities, including centres outside India.

The plea further notes that the Union Government has already announced that NEET UG will transition to CBT mode from 2027, contending that postponing the shift despite the cancellation of the 2026 examination is unreasonable.

In a related news last week, the Centre assured the Supreme Court that it was undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of the National Testing Agency's functioning. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the government was "going ten extra miles" on examination reforms, adding that the process was under the highest level of supervision and that any suggestions from the Court would be accepted without reservation.