Supreme Court Directs Government on NTA Reforms

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Indian government to file a detailed affidavit within three weeks outlining the implementation of reform recommendations for the National Testing Agency, emphasizing that strengthening the body requires deep-rooted institutionalization rather than temporary fixes. The directive was issued by a bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe while hearing petitions seeking structural reforms in the agency, which conducts major entrance examinations like NEET-UG.

The court stressed that the NTA must evolve into a vibrant, self-sustaining institution with robust infrastructure, adequate manpower, and advanced technological capabilities. The bench specifically sought information on the progress of recommendations from two expert panels: one headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan and a second task force led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani. The court noted that the Nilekani committee, which is examining reforms involving artificial intelligence and blockchain, should review and build upon the Radhakrishnan committee's work to ensure continuity.

"Our duty is to ensure that there is a vibrant institution that the country can be...