Centre Assures Supreme Court That NEET Security System Is Foolproof
- MGMMTeam
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that the security arrangements for the NEET-UG examination are “foolproof and difficult to breach.” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented a detailed account of the multi-stage process followed from the creation of question papers to their delivery at examination centres. The submissions were made during the hearing of petitions arising from the paper leak that took place on May 3.
Multi-Layered Process for Question Paper Preparation
Mehta explained that a bank of approximately 500 questions is first prepared by several independent sets of moderators. From this larger pool, a different group of moderators prepares four distinct question papers, each containing 100 questions. The Director General of the National Testing Agency then selects two of these papers. The selected papers are placed in a sealed box and sent for printing under continuous CISF security and CCTV surveillance. The box is equipped with a digital key, and the access code is released by the Director General only after the printing press owner makes formal contact. Once the box is opened, no unauthorised person is permitted inside, and the entire printing process is video-recorded. Importantly, the printer is not informed which examination the papers belong to.
Safeguards During Transportation and Storage
Further layers of protection cover the movement and storage of the material. Question papers and OMR sheets are first sealed in tamper-proof covers and envelopes before being placed in iron boxes fitted with one-time-use locks that cannot be reopened without being broken. Vehicles transporting these boxes are equipped with GPS systems that record even minor deviations in their routes. The two different sets of papers travel separately and are deposited in strong rooms of banks, ensuring that no single location holds the complete material until the examination day.
Supreme Court’s Call for Institutional Reforms
While acknowledging the security measures described by the Centre, the Supreme Court emphasised the need to institutionalise reforms within the examination system. A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe directed the National Testing Agency to place on record the steps taken to implement the recommendations of the earlier panel headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan and the more recent committee led by Nandan Nilekani. The court asked the Solicitor General to file a fresh affidavit setting out the progress made so far, along with indicative timelines. The judges observed that lasting improvements require stronger cybersecurity, secure infrastructure, dedicated testing centres, a permanent mechanism for paper sealing, and clear institutional responsibility at a senior level.
Overhaul Under Way at the National Testing Agency
Alongside the court proceedings, the National Testing Agency has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of its internal processes. Following directions from the Education Minister, around 600 experts associated with question-paper work have been replaced and new experts have been onboarded. A four-tier system for verifying question papers is being introduced to strengthen scrutiny. Between 20 and 25 additional officials are expected to join in the coming weeks, and the agency’s offices are being shifted to new premises where security will be reinforced by CISF teams. New professional positions in technology, information security, test security and psychometrics are also being filled.
The MGMM Outlook
The Centre’s detailed submission before the Supreme Court highlights the extensive security measures now being used to protect the NEET-UG examination process. From question-paper preparation and printing to transportation and storage, multiple safeguards, including CCTV surveillance, CISF security, digital access controls, GPS tracking and tamper-proof packaging, are designed to minimise the possibility of breaches. The National Testing Agency is also undertaking internal changes, including replacing hundreds of experts, introducing a four-tier question-paper verification system and strengthening its technology and security teams.
The Supreme Court’s emphasis on implementing the recommendations of expert committees shows that examination security requires continuous institutional strengthening rather than relying only on existing safeguards. With the NTA upgrading its processes and infrastructure while the court monitors the implementation of reforms, the focus remains on building a more secure, transparent and accountable examination system. These measures can play an important role in restoring confidence among students and parents and ensuring greater credibility for one of India’s most important entrance examinations.
(Sources: India TV News, India Today, News18)
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