NEET PG question disclosure: Supreme Court asks NBEMS for justification

In short

On November 2, 2026, the Supreme Court asked NBEMS to file written submissions.
The court is responding to a writ petition by the Democratic Medical Association seeking disclosure of OMR sheets, question papers, and answer keys.
NBEMS counsel argued that the NEET PG question bank is limited and a national asset, which could be compromised by annual disclosure.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe, questioned the transparency of the current practice.
The matter has been adjourned, and NBEMS must explain why disclosure would not compromise exam integrity.

The Supreme Court on November 2, 2026, asked the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to file written submissions explaining why it should not disclose questions along with answer keys for the NEET PG examination. This directive came in response to a writ petition filed by the Democratic Medical Association.

The petition seeks the immediate uploading of individual OMR answer sheets, question papers, and corresponding answer keys to candidates’ login accounts after the examination. The court’s inquiry focuses on the transparency of the NEET PG examination process, a matter that could impact future aspirants.

Arguments for and Against Question Disclosure

Senior Advocate Shikhil Suri represented the petitioners, advocating for greater transparency in the examination process. The Democratic Medical Association’s petition specifically requested that NBEMS upload individual OMR answer sheets, question papers, and corresponding answer keys to login accounts immediately after the examination. This demand aligns with practices in other examinations where question papers are routinely disclosed.

Conversely, NBEMS counsel argued against the disclosure of questions, stating that the question bank for NEET PG is very limited and constitutes a national asset. The counsel submitted that while the portal discloses question IDs, the status of answers, and correct answers, the questions themselves are not revealed. It was argued that disclosing questions year after year would lead to all questions being ‘quoted’ within 5-6 years, potentially compromising the integrity of future examinations. One counsel also claimed that previous years’ NEET PG question papers were sold on Amazon, highlighting concerns about misuse.

Court’s Stance on Transparency and International Models

Justice PS Narasimha, part of the bench alongside Justice Alok Aradhe, questioned the NBEMS’s stance, asking, ‘What happens to transparency?’ The NBEMS counsel cited that many countries, including AIIMS, follow models of not disclosing question papers. However, Justice Narasimha stated that practices in other countries do not necessarily serve as a model for India, pressing NBEMS to justify its position within the Indian context.

Justice Narasimha further stated, ‘Explain to us in a little more detail why you stand on a different footing.’ The court ordered NBEMS to file written submissions explaining why the disclosure of questions may not compromise the integrity of upholding the exams for postgraduate NEET. The present petition is listed with main petitions from the Federation of All India Medical Association, represented by Advocate Tanvi Dubey, and United Doctors Front, represented by Advocates Charu Mathur and Ritu Raniwal AOR. These main petitions challenge structural issues related to the working of the National Testing Agency.

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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