NEET-UG May Shift to Online Format, Following JEE-Mains Pattern

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate Medical Studies (NEET-UG) is likely to undergo a significant change in the coming years. According to sources close to the development, the Centre is considering transitioning the test to a computer-based format, similar to the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Mains. This move comes in the wake of irregularities reported in this year’s test.

The idea of going online has been discussed within the committee responsible for making changes to the test, although no formal direction has been issued yet. The recent controversy surrounding competitive exams, including NEET-UG and others, has added momentum to the proposal. One official, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that while equipping all 4,000 test centers across the country with computers and necessary infrastructure would be a challenge, conducting the exams online like JEE-Mains would be a good idea. However, this would require a significant scaling up.

The development comes as the Supreme Court is currently investigating the NEET-UG exam, which was marred by a question paper leak. On Monday, the court asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre to file their affidavits with detailed information and sought a status report from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by July 10. The court also directed the NTA to inform it about the steps taken to identify candidates who benefited from the paper leak.

The case will be heard again on July 11. The Supreme Court has made it clear that there is no doubt that the May 5 NEET-UG exam was compromised by the leak and that the NTA must provide information on the measures taken to address the issue. The potential shift to an online format could bring about significant changes to the way NEET-UG is conducted, and it remains to be seen how the proposal will unfold in the coming months.