For ‘Clean’ NEET UG: 101 Recommendations Of 2024 Versus The Ground Reality Of 2026 Explained

Last Updated:May 12, 2026, 14:56 IST

K. Radhakrishnan Committee's 101 recommendations for NEET UG vs ground reality: Cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 following a paper leak in Rajasthan has highlighted gaps in delivery

The K. Radhakrishnan Committee, formed in June 2024 following the NEET-UG 2024 controversies, had submitted a report in October 2024 featuring 101 recommendations aimed at overhauling the National Testing Agency (NTA).

How many of those were implemented? News18 audits.

As of May 12, 2026, the implementation of these reforms by the National Testing Agency (NTA) is officially described as partial and ongoing. While the government previously informed the Supreme Court that it would implement all suggestions, the recent cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 following a paper leak in Rajasthan has highlighted significant gaps in the delivery of these fixes.

NEET UG controversy: What had happened in 2024?

The NEET UG 2024 controversy was a nationwide crisis involving allegations of paper leaks, unfair “grace marks," and an unprecedented number of perfect scores. The fallout led to massive protests, multiple Supreme Court hearings, and a CBI investigation into the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) conduct.Key Pillars of the

Reports emerged of question papers being sold for ₹30–₹50 lakh in Bihar a day before the May 5 exam. Similar irregularities were reported in Godhra, Gujarat, where teachers allegedly assisted students.

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To compensate for “loss of time" at certain centers, the NTA awarded grace marks to 1,563 candidates. This resulted in some students achieving impossible scores like 718 or 719 out of 720, which the standard marking scheme does not allow.

An unprecedented 67 students scored a perfect 720/720 (later revised to 61). This caused massive rank inflation, making even high scores insufficient for seats in top government colleges.

After weeks of legal battles, the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Education took the following actions. The grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates were cancelled. These students were given the option to take a re-test on June 23, 2024, or accept their original non-compensated scores. On July 23, 2024, the Supreme Court refused to cancel the entire exam, stating there was no evidence of a “systemic" leak that would justify penalizing all 24 lakh candidates. Following an IIT Delhi expert panel’s advice, the Court ordered a revision of the answer key for a disputed Physics question that had two potentially “correct" options, leading to a final re-calculation of ranks. The NTA chief was replaced, and the K. Radhakrishnan Committee was established to suggest 101 reforms for future cycles.

The 101 Reforms: Promised versus delivered

While the government had promised a “stress-free, zero-error" system by 2026, many core structural changes remained in the evaluation phase when the 2026 leak occurred.

A look at the implementation status of key reforms:

NTA Restructuring: Partially Implemented

The NTA was mandated to conduct only entrance exams (no recruitment tests) from 2025. Ten new permanent administrative and IT posts were created to reduce reliance on external vendors.

Restricted Exam Centers: Partially Implemented

A shift began toward using government institutions like Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) as secure centers, though private centers were still in use for NEET 2026.

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Hybrid/Digital Delivery: Not Implemented for NEET

The committee suggested digital question transmission (Hybrid model) to prevent leaks. However, NEET 2026 remained a paper-based exam, which investigators believe enabled the Rajasthan leak.

Multi-Stage Exams: Pending

The proposal to hold NEET in two stages (similar to JEE Main/Advanced) was deferred and not active for the 2026 cycle.

“Digi-Exam" System: In Pilot Phase

The Aadhaar-linked biometric and AI-based identity verification system is currently being tested but was not fully operational across all 2026 exam centers.

Sub-committes: Partial (Audit, Ethics, Transparency)

Create 3 sub-committees; hire 16+ permanent staff to replace contractual roles. Partial. Some new posts were created, but the agency’s reliance on external vendors remained a critical vulnerability.

Shift to a Hybrid Model (digital question delivery + OMR answers) or full Computer-Based Testing (CBT). Not Delivered for NEET

NEET 2026 remained paper-based, with the shift to hybrid/CBT models deferred to 2027 onwards.

Security Protocols: Pilot Phase

Aadhaar-based biometrics, sanitised centers, and digital question transmission to prevent leaks. . Biometric verification was piloted but not fully scaled to all centers before the 2026 exam cycle.

Exam Frequency: Pending

Multi-stage exams (Prelims/Mains) or twice-a-year attempts to reduce pressure. These changes were earmarked for the 2027 cycle and were not active for the 2026 exam.

The Education Ministry has now ordered a CBI probe into the 2026 leak and indicated that the remaining technical reforms, particularly the Hybrid Testing Model, will be fast-tracked for the 2027 cycle.

The “Rajasthan Leak" Impact

The Rajasthan leak on May 3, 2026, served as a grim audit of these reforms. Investigators found that over 100 questions from a circulated “guess paper" matched the actual NEET 2026 exam. On May 12, 2026, the NTA officially cancelled NEET-UG 2026 and referred the case to the CBI for a criminal probe.

The committee’s recommendations were criticized for remaining largely “on paper." Parliamentary panels had previously warned that without shifting to government-controlled infrastructure and reducing vendor dependency, leaks would persist.

Following the cancellation, the Education Ministry has reiterated its commitment to the Radhakrishnan Committee’s digital-first reforms, though the timeline for full implementation has now been pushed to the 2027 cycle.

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