The Supreme Court of India has declined an urgent plea seeking to conduct the upcoming NEET-UG 2026 re examination in a computer based test (CBT) format, allowing the examination to proceed in the existing pen andpaper mode.

A vacation bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and Aravind Kumar refused to hear the matter on an urgent basis and indicated that it would be taken up after the court vacation. The bench reportedly cited practical challenges and noted that similar requests had been considered and dismissed earlier.

The plea had sought broader examination reforms, including a transition to computer based testing for future editions of NEET, arguing that digital examinations could help improve transparency and reduce the risk of irregularities. However, the Court did not grant any interim relief ahead of the scheduled re test.

The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination is currently scheduled for June 21 and will continue to be conducted in the traditional offline format by the NTA.

NEET-UG remains India’s largest medical entrance examination, with more than 24 lakh candidates appearing annually for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other undergraduate medical programmes. The examination has been at the centre of intense scrutiny following allegations of paper leaks and examination irregularities that triggered legal challenges and demands for systemic reforms.

Education experts remain divided on the issue of computer based testing. While supporters argue that CBT can improve security, monitoring, and efficiency, others point to infrastructure limitations and accessibility challenges, particularly for students from rural and underserved regions.

The matter is now expected to be heard in July, when the Supreme Court will consider the broader issues raised regarding examination reforms and the future conduct of national level entrance tests.