The Supreme Court has postponed the NEET UG hearing until July 18 due to pending responses from the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA). Earlier, during the July 8 hearing, the Court acknowledged the alleged leak of the NEET UG 2024 paper, leaving aspirants and parents feeling betrayed and calling for more transparent policies.
On June 22, the government formed a committee chaired by Dr. K Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms for NEET UG, focusing on enhancing data security and improving the NTA’s operations. Stakeholders, including students and parents, were invited to share their suggestions between June 27 and July 7.
Ahead of the committee’s recommendations, experts interviewed by indianexpress.com proposed practical measures. Sridhar Rajagopalan suggested transitioning to computer-based tests (CBTs) with enhanced security measures like AI-powered proctoring to deter hacking attempts. He emphasized the need for scientifically developed multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and subjective assessments for fair evaluation.
Aprajita Gautam from the Delhi Parents Association advocated for phased online exams to reduce stress and prevent leaks, suggesting the involvement of an autonomous body instead of NTA to organize the exams. Dr. Sumangala Biswas supported phased exams for better management and fairness in assessment.
V Ramgopal Rao proposed dividing NEET into prelims and mains, similar to JEE, to manage the large number of candidates effectively. He recommended AIIMS oversee NEET Advanced to ensure exam integrity.
Advocate Ashok Agarwal argued for state governments to conduct exams to mitigate biases and ensure student-centric policies. Meanwhile, the Union government has sought state cooperation to enhance exam oversight by appointing civil and police observers at exam centers.