NEET-UG exams: Online or pen-and-paper? Decision soon

New Delhi: The Education and Health Ministries are deliberating whether the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) should be conducted in pen-and-paper mode or shift to an online format. A decision on the matter is expected soon, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Tuesday. 

Currently, NEET-UG is conducted offline, requiring students to answer multiple-choice questions on an OMR sheet. This annual exam is the largest in India, with over 24 lakh candidates appearing in 2024. The reforms, once finalised, will be implemented in the 2025 edition of the exam.  

Talks between education and health ministries

The Education Ministry has held two rounds of discussions with the Health Ministry, led by Union Minister JP Nadda, to evaluate the best format for NEET-UG.

“The administrative responsibility for NEET lies with the Health Ministry. We are consulting them, and the National Testing Agency (NTA) is ready to conduct the exam in any mode deemed suitable,” Pradhan said.  

He added that the methodology, protocols, and potential changes would be announced once a decision is reached.

Reform proposals following paper leak controversy

The push for change gained momentum after irregularities, including a paper leak controversy earlier this year, placed NEET under scrutiny. In response, the Centre set up a high-level committee, chaired by former ISRO Chief R Radhakrishnan, to ensure transparency and fairness in examinations conducted by the NTA.  

The committee has proposed the possibility of introducing multi-stage testing for NEET-UG to enhance security and fairness.

“An acceptable framework with thresholds, test objectives, scoring, and ranking protocols needs to be developed,” the panel recommended.  

Strengthening security for National exams

The committee, which includes experts such as former AIIMS Delhi director Randeep Guleria and IIT academicians, is also tasked with reviewing the security protocols for all national exams. This follows allegations of irregularities in NEET and UGC-NET and the last-minute cancellation of other exams like CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG.  

With 1,08,000 MBBS seats available in India—split between government and private medical colleges—NEET plays a crucial role in admissions for medical, dental, and traditional medicine courses. Any changes to its format will aim to ensure fairness and integrity for the millions of students who appear for the test each year.  

PTI