NEET-UG to Go Fully Computer Based from 2027, NTA Tells Supreme Court
Agency says expert panel’s recommendations are being implemented; enhanced security measures planned for June 21 re-examination
NEW DELHI, May 29: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed the Supreme Court that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses (NEET-UG) will be conducted in a computer based test (CBT) format from 2027, marking a major shift from the traditional pen and paper system.
The submission was made through an affidavit before a Bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, which is hearing a batch of petitions linked to the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG 2026 that resulted in the cancellation of the examination held on May 3.
According to the NTA, the move follows recommendations made by a high-level committee constituted by the Union Government to review examination reforms and strengthen the functioning of the testing agency. The committee had proposed transitioning NEET-UG to a digital platform along with introducing multi-session and multi-stage testing mechanisms for greater efficiency and security.
The agency stated that NEET-UG remains the only major examination under its purview still conducted offline, while all other large-scale entrance tests are already held through computer based systems. The transition, it added, will be carried out in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission.
The affidavit was filed in compliance with a Supreme Court direction issued on May 25 during proceedings on petitions seeking structural reforms within the NTA and enhanced safeguards for national-level entrance examinations.
Providing details of ongoing reforms, the NTA said the Ministry of Education had established an expert panel in June 2024 under the chairmanship of former Indian Space Research Organisation chief Dr. K. Radhakrishnan. The panel submitted its report in October 2024, outlining 101 recommendations aimed at improving examination governance, transparency and security.
To oversee implementation, the Centre later constituted a High-Powered Steering Committee headed by Radhakrishnan. The NTA told the court that a significant number of recommendations have already been executed, while others are at advanced stages of implementation.
The agency highlighted the introduction of standard operating procedures for question-paper preparation, moderation and vetting, describing them as part of broader efforts to strengthen examination integrity.
Referring to NEET-UG 2026, the NTA said more than 22 lakh candidates appeared at 5,432 centres across the country. The re-examination scheduled for June 21 will be conducted under a reinforced security framework featuring multi layer authentication systems, enhanced surveillance measures and closer coordination among agencies.
The affidavit noted that the decision to cancel the May 3 examination and transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation reflected the government’s commitment to protecting the credibility of the national examination process. It added that the NTA is fully cooperating with the ongoing probe.
Looking ahead, the agency said it plans to further institutionalise randomisation and rotation policies for paper setters, moderators, translators and other personnel involved in sensitive examinations. It also announced plans to deploy artificial intelligence tools for most translation work, reducing human intervention and minimising the risk of security breaches while improving efficiency.
