NEET-UG is changing format. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced that from 2027, NEET-UG will move from the pen-and-paper OMR format to a computer-based test (CBT).
Why the change?
The decision follows the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 after a paper leak. The Radhakrishnan committee, set up after the 2024 NEET-UG controversy, had recommended CBT as more secure than OMR-based testing. The minister said the root cause of the problem is OMR-based examination and stressed the need to protect deserving students from malpractice. The 2026 re-examination stays in the offline, pen-and-paper format.
How will it work?
With more than 2.2 million candidates each year, the exam is expected to run across roughly 20 shifts. Scores will be normalised so that easier and harder shifts are treated fairly.
Concerns being raised
Stakeholders have flagged three issues:
- Infrastructure readiness of exam centres.
- Access for rural and disadvantaged students.
- The robustness of the digital systems.
What aspirants should do
- Practise on computer-based mock tests, not only paper ones.
- Get comfortable reading long questions on screen.
- Follow only NTA's official website for notifications.
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Sources: The Quint (Union Education Minister: NEET-UG 2027 to shift to CBT); Whalesbook; Resonance.