The Ministry of Education is evaluating the possibility of conducting the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET UG) in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format. This consideration comes in the wake of recent concerns over paper leaks and exam security.
Senior officials have indicated that a final decision will follow detailed inter-ministerial consultations. Multiple discussions have already taken place between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to determine whether NEET should continue as a traditional pen-and-paper exam or transition to an online platform.
Despite years of deliberation, the shift to CBT mode has not yet been implemented.
NEET: INDIA’S LARGEST ENTRANCE EXAM
The NEET UG is the largest entrance exam in the country in terms of the number of candidates who appear for it. In 2025 alone, over 22 lakh candidates took the examination.
The test is conducted annually by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into medical colleges across India. Currently, there are 1,08,000 MBBS seats available, with approximately 56,000 seats in government medical colleges and around 52,000 in private institutions.
In addition to MBBS, NEET scores are also used for admissions into other undergraduate medical programs such as Dentistry (BDS), Ayurveda (BAMS), Unani (BUMS), and Siddha (BSMS).
REFORM PUSH POST PAPER LEAK CONTROVERSY
The renewed push for NEET reform, including the possible shift to CBT mode, comes in the wake of the 2024 paper leak controversy, which drew sharp criticism and raised concerns over the integrity of national-level examinations.
Under intense scrutiny for irregularities in both the NEET and the UGC NET PhD entrance exams, the government formed a high-level committee in July last year, led by former ISRO Chief R. Radhakrishnan. The panel was tasked with recommending reforms to ensure fair, transparent, and secure conduct of examinations by the NTA.
According to the panel, introducing multi-stage testing for NEET UG could be a “viable possibility that needs to be followed up.”
INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY
While NEET continues to face allegations of malpractice, the UGC NET exam was cancelled in 2024 after the Ministry of Education received intelligence inputs suggesting the exam’s integrity had been compromised. Both cases are currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
As the Education Ministry reviews data on infrastructure readiness and potential student impact, a final call on switching NEET-UG to an online mode is yet to be taken. Discussions with the Ministry of Health will play a pivotal role in determining the way forward.
For now, lakhs of aspiring doctors across India await clarity on the format of one of the most competitive entrance exams in the country.
– Ends