Science & Tech
NTA Says NEET-UG Could Move To Computer-Based Testing After Nilekani Panel Review
The proposed shift aims to tighten security without widening access gaps.
The proposed shift aims to tighten security without widening access gaps.
is under pressure to move away from the paper-based model after the leak crisis exposed deep weaknesses in exam security and administration. The centre now sees as a live option, but any shift will depend on the ’s recommendations and the government’s ability to balance tighter controls with access, logistics, and coaching fairness.
The task force invited public suggestions on reforms to India’s exam system, including the conduct, security, design, and of examinations. The consultation deadline pointed to an active drafting phase, while the focus on secure conduct and better administration reflected the same pressures that could drive NEET-UG toward CBT.
At a meeting with the Nilekani-led task force, state governments were reported to have broadly backed a shift to for entrance exams. The discussion also centered on and , highlighting how the rollout would depend on state coordination and local infrastructure.
Reports said the task force was racing to prepare a roadmap for the 2027 cycle, including a multi-day, for . The same reporting said the panel was working toward an October deadline, with consultations and planning meant to give the government time to implement changes before the next cycle.
The Supreme Court urged the Centre to show meaningful continuity in and not keep cycling through committees. The government said the and the new were landmark measures against future leaks, while the court sought clearer timelines for action.
The Centre told the Supreme Court that no final decision had been taken on conducting NEET-UG as a computer-based exam from 2027. The statement clarified that the reform was still conditional on the expert panel’s work, but it also confirmed that a transition was now being seriously examined at the highest level.
In an before the Supreme Court, the Centre said moving NEET-UG from pen-and-paper to was under active consideration. It added that a final decision would be taken after receiving the Nilekani task force’s recommendations, making the format shift an official live option.
Reports sd the six-member panel would examine the full exam lifecycle, from question paper handling to and result processing. The mandate explicitly included modern tools such as and , showing that the reform push was moving beyond patchwork fixes toward system redesign.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a on examination reforms, chaired by Infosys co-founder . The panel was asked to recommend structural and technology-driven changes for public exams, including the NTA system, with a focus on leak prevention, verification, and logistics.
After the NEET-UG controversy, the moved to review the wider public-exam system and strengthen the . Officials framed the problem as , not just one-off misconduct, with reform discussions turning to technology, governance, and tighter controls on exam delivery.
The and related irregularities triggered nationwide outrage, , and demands for a redesign of how India runs its biggest medical entrance exam. The crisis made the look vulnerable on security and administration, and it pushed exam reform onto the central policy agenda.