Supreme Court to Examine NBE’s “Non-Disclosure Policy” on NEET PG Exam Papers

The Supreme Court has officially agreed to examine the National Board of Examinations (NBE) policy that prohibits the disclosure of NEET PG question papers and answer keys. A bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Vijay Bishnoi expressed strong skepticism regarding the NBE’s refusal to publish the full question papers, remarking that the board’s justification “doesn’t stand logic”. This observation came while hearing a batch of pleas arguing that the current “Question ID-only” disclosure is illusory and prevents candidates from verifying their actual responses against the correct answers.

The NBE defended its policy by claiming that its question bank is a “scarce national asset” and that releasing the full papers would lead to “misuse and exploitation” by coaching centers, encouraging rote learning over clinical skills. The board further argued that candidates are bound by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) signed before the exam, which strictly prohibits them from sharing or accessing test content. They also cited that other premier institutes like AIIMS and NIMHANS follow similar non-disclosure norms.

However, the Court appeared unconvinced by the “national asset” argument, stating that mere correct answers should not be hidden under the guise of security. Justice Narasimha noted, “We are not fully convinced. We will hear this matter in detail,” signaling that the judiciary is ready to test whether the NBE’s secrecy violates the candidates’ right to a fair and transparent admission process. The case is now set for a detailed hearing to determine if the non-disclosure policy can legally stand.

1 min read January 30, 2026