NEET May Shift to Two-Phase Online Exam: Centre

New Delhi: The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court that transforming the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) into a computer-based examination is under active consideration. The Centre also said it is exploring the possibility of conducting the country’s biggest medical entrance test in two online phases, similar to the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

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In an affidavit submitted before the apex court, the government stated that the proposed transition would be implemented in a phased manner after considering the recommendations of a high-level expert task force, consulting all stakeholders, and providing students with adequate advance notice before any final decision is taken.

The move comes in the wake of the NEET paper leak controversy, which prompted the Centre to introduce sweeping reforms in the examination process conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

According to the affidavit, a multi-layered security framework has now been introduced to strengthen the integrity and transparency of national entrance examinations and prevent future irregularities.

Responding to petitions seeking structural reforms in the NTA, the Centre submitted details of the measures adopted following the Supreme Court’s May 29, 2026 directions.

The affidavit, filed by Arvind Kumar Sinha, Secretary in the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, stated that although the NTA has successfully shifted several national-level examinations to the computer-based mode, NEET remains the only major examination still conducted in pen-and-paper format due to its massive scale and nationwide participation.

The government also informed the court about recent improvements introduced in the examination system, signalling its commitment to enhancing transparency, security and efficiency in one of India’s largest competitive examinations.

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