The Ministry of Education is conducting a detailed data analysis to evaluate the feasibility of conducting the NEET-UG (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses) in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, senior officials confirmed. The move comes after multiple deliberations between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare over shifting from the traditional pen-and-paper format to a fully online examination.
Data Analysis to Assess Impact of CBT Mode
According to officials, the analysis focuses on whether transitioning NEET-UG to CBT mode could disadvantage certain groups of students, particularly those from rural areas with limited access to technology. It also examines existing infrastructure and reviews the experience of other major exams conducted in CBT format.
“The data is being analysed to understand if conducting the exam in CBT mode will cause loss to a certain set of students. Once the analysis is complete, the findings will be shared with the health ministry for further decisions,” a senior official said.
NEET-UG: India’s Largest Entrance Exam
The NEET-UG exam is the largest competitive exam in India in terms of candidates. In 2025, over 22 lakh students appeared for the medical entrance examination. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts NEET every year to facilitate admissions into medical and allied courses.
For MBBS admissions, a total of 1,08,000 seats are available across the country, of which approximately 56,000 are in government medical colleges and around 52,000 in private medical colleges. Apart from MBBS, the NEET score is also used for admissions in BDS, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and other undergraduate medical courses.
Why the Push for Exam Reform?
The debate over introducing CBT mode for NEET-UG is not new. However, the urgency has increased following the paper leak controversy in 2024, which sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about the credibility of the exam.
Last year, amid allegations of irregularities in NEET and the PhD-entrance NET, the Centre constituted a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chief R Radhakrishnan to strengthen examination reforms. The committee recommended considering multi-stage testing for NEET-UG and emphasized the need to safeguard the integrity of national-level exams.
Exam Integrity Concerns
Both NEET-UG and UGC-NET came under scrutiny in 2024. While NEET faced allegations of question paper leaks, the UGC-NET exam was cancelled after the ministry received reports suggesting its integrity had been compromised. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing both matters.
What’s Next for NEET Aspirants?
If NEET-UG transitions to Computer-Based Test mode, it will align the exam with other CBT-based competitive tests such as JEE Main, GATE, and CAT, which are considered more secure and transparent. However, officials stress that any shift must be carefully planned to avoid disadvantaging rural students and those with limited access to digital infrastructure.
The proposal to conduct NEET-UG in CBT mode reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring fair, transparent, and secure medical entrance examinations in India. With over 22 lakh candidates competing for medical seats every year, the move could significantly reduce risks of malpractice and paper leaks. A final decision will be made once the Ministry of Education completes its analysis and consults the Ministry of Health.
