NEET Reform Report: Nandan Nilekani Panel to Submit Interim Findings by Month-End
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that the high-powered committee headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has completed extensive consultations and is likely to submit its first interim NEET reform report by the end of September. The update came during a hearing on petitions seeking structural changes to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the conduct of competitive examinations.
Nandan Nilekani Panel Completes Consultations
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe that suggestions had been placed before the committee and that it had also consulted members of the earlier committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan.
The Nandan Nilekani panel was constituted in July with a broader mandate to recommend structural reforms for India’s competitive examination system. Its work includes examination security, technology, institutional arrangements, and the functioning of the NTA.
The latest development follows the Supreme Court’s earlier intervention over the need to institutionalise NEET reforms, rather than relying on temporary measures.
Supreme Court Seeks Permanent Examination Structure
During Friday’s hearing, the Supreme Court stressed that the examination system needs a permanent institutional structure. The bench said continuity in staffing and administration would be essential for ensuring a stable system.
The Centre told the court that the NTA has established a new upgraded facility, although some human-resource requirements remain to be addressed.
The Supreme Court NEET update also included a direction for the Joint Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training, who is coordinating with the committee, to file an affidavit detailing the progress made so far.
The court has also indicated that the judges would like to visit the NTA’s upgraded facility to assess its infrastructure, staffing and operational arrangements directly. According to Careers360, the court is seeking clearer evidence that the institutional changes are actually in place.
Nandan Nilekani Panel Has Wider Mandate
The committee’s work extends beyond a single examination. The government has described it as a high-level mechanism for strengthening the broader competitive-examination ecosystem, while the Supreme Court proceedings have focused particularly on NEET and the NTA.
The NEET reform report is therefore expected to have implications beyond NEET-UG if its recommendations propose permanent changes to examination administration, technology, staffing and security.
The development comes amid continuing scrutiny of examination systems following allegations of question-paper leaks and demands for stronger safeguards. Earlier student protests over examination integrity had also resulted in major legal proceedings, including the Supreme Court’s intervention concerning cases filed against protesters.
What Happens After The Interim Report
The first NEET reform report will be an interim submission, meaning it is not necessarily the committee’s final set of recommendations. Its contents will be important for determining what structural changes the government may consider and how those measures could affect future examinations.
The Supreme Court NEET update also indicates that the court is examining not only individual safeguards but the permanence and institutional capacity of the NTA itself.
For now, the Centre has told the court that the Nandan Nilekani panel is expected to submit its first report by the end of September. The Supreme Court is expected to consider the government’s progress and the committee’s recommendations in subsequent proceedings.
