NEET UG to Shift Online Mode: Education Ministry Plans Major CBT Upgrade for Future Exams

Ministry of Education is coming up with a national strategy regarding CBT infrastructure considering the possibility of changing the pen-and-paper format of NEET UG to online mode in the future.

The plan focuses on making an effective exam system that will help conduct mass scale entrance examinations in India through the country. The effort will mainly concentrate on providing a high number of test centers, better infrastructure standards, and conducting tests that can be conducted using computers.

An official of Ministry of Education said that this strategy will help bridge the inequality among the test centers of different regions and provide uniform examination facilities.

NEET UG Online Exam Plan: What Is Being Considered?

Conduct of NEET UG has always taken place in a pen and paper pattern with the use of OMR Sheets. The government is now looking at the possibilities of conducting the medical entrance exam in the form of CBT.

But it has been emphasized that there is nothing concrete yet. Any decision would be made after recommendations of High-Powered Task Force for examination reforms chaired by Nandan Nilekani.

The process of changing the mode of examination involves more than just digitization of the question paper. Many things are being looked at by the government. These include:

• Provision of adequate test centers
• Examination Infrastructure
• Security
• Process of Transition
• Effect on candidates from rural background and those living in places with less availability of internet

The government is also looking at how this might affect female candidates and those studying in districts where less digital facilities are available.

What Is the Nilekani Panel Reviewing?

The task force headed by Nandan Nilekani was set up in July to provide recommendations on reforms in regard to conduct, security, design, and management of the public examinations including those conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Some of the issues that are being looked into are as follows:

• Examination security
• Use of technology
• Development of infrastructure
• Accessibility
• Candidate inclusion

The task force has been taking advice from the experts and stakeholders while framing its recommendations.

It is noteworthy that the task force had also taken the advice of K Radhakrishnan, who was the former chairman of ISRO. It may be mentioned here that K Radhakrishnan headed a previous committee which was formed following the scandal in NEET UG exam in 2024.

The Supreme Court has also sought information from the Centre regarding the implementation of recommendations of the Radhakrishnan committee and the Nilekani task force.

NEET CBT Infrastructure May Support Other Exams Too

This proposed computer-based test infrastructure will not only cover NEET UG, but the government is also looking into how this infrastructure can be used for other national entrance exams. Some of the exams currently being conducted by NTA through computer-based testing are:

• JEE Main
• CUET UG
• CUET PG
• UGC NET
• CSIR UGC NET

NEET is among the largest pen and paper exams in the country, with around 25 lakh applicants each year.

It was also reported that once this national infrastructure strategy for CBT is framed, it will help move other offline entrance tests to computer-based format.

Challenges in Moving NEET UG Online

Switching NEET UG into CBT format will take considerable amount of preparation. It will require:

• Proper test centers in various states
• Unified computer systems
• Internet connectivity
• Back-up power
• Effective security measures

Moreover, the government will have to make sure that students sitting in different places have identical examination conditions.

Earlier, the possibility of holding NEET examination in an online format has been discussed too. But now, this discussion is taking place amid several reforms being thought of for the examination system.

Nilekani task force is expected to give its recommendations before the government makes the final decision regarding time schedule and format of the new examination.

In case the reform takes place, the new infrastructure will form the basis for future development of national entrance examinations in computer-based format.

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