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NEET UG to Go Online? Centre Explores CBT Infrastructure for Medical Entrance Exam
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News18•30-09-2026, 12:50
NEET UG to Go Online? Centre Explores CBT Infrastructure for Medical Entrance Exam
- •The Ministry of Education is developing a national Computer-Based Testing (CBT) infrastructure strategy to transition NEET from pen-and-paper to online mode.
- •This move follows a NEET paper leak earlier this year, with a final decision pending the report from the Nandan Nilekani-led task force on examination system overhaul.
- •The proposed strategy aims to standardize test centers, close geographic gaps, and eventually shift all entrance examinations online.
- •Considerations include infrastructure prerequisites and equity implications for rural, women, and low-connectivity candidates.
- •NEET-UG is India's largest undergraduate entrance exam, with nearly 25 lakh candidates annually competing for approximately 1.08 lakh MBBS seats.
Key Questions Answered
Yes, the Ministry of Education is developing a national Computer-Based Testing (CBT) infrastructure strategy to shift NEET from its traditional pen-and-paper format to an online mode starting next year. A final decision will follow the report from the Nandan Nilekani-led task force.
A high-powered task force to recommend reforms and prevent paper leaks was formed under the leadership of Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.
The transition plan was initiated following the NEET-UG question paper leak earlier this year, which caused nationwide student protests and led to the formation of a reform task force.
