NEET-UG may go computer-based: Centre tells SC it's under active consideration

The Union Education Ministry has informed the Supreme Court that shifting the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, from the traditional pen-and-paper format to Computer Based Testing (CBT) is under “active consideration by all stakeholders”. The affidavit, dated August 4, was submitted to the apex court in response to its queries on the conduct of the medical entrance examination.

The government's submission comes in the wake of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak that led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This is the first affidavit filed by the government after that event.

In its filed response, the Ministry said that NEET-UG is “a sui generis examination on account of a multitude of factors”, pointing to the over 22 lakh registered candidates, a majority of whom are from rural backgrounds and women. The Ministry emphasised that any transition must be carefully planned and executed.

The government stated that it is reviewing whether to adopt a single-stage or a two-stage computer-based examination, similar to the pattern of the Joint Entrance Examination (Mains and Advanced). However, the Ministry said that the “final approach” on changing to CBT would be taken only after considering the recommendations of the newly-formed high-powered task force chaired by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.

The task force was constituted as part of the government's response to repeated leaks in public examinations. The Ministry hailed two recent measures—the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2026 and the formation of the Nilekani-led task force—as “landmark measures” to prevent future malpractices.

The affidavit also clarified that any structural change in the design of NEET-UG will be undertaken only in consultation with, and with the concurrence of, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission. The government assured the court that candidates will be given adequate advance notice of any change in the mode or design of the examination, so that the transition may be smooth, equitable and free of avoidable stress.

Beyond the immediate question of CBT, the government outlined steps it is taking to improve the examination process. It said it is creating an “institutional memory” bank drawn from experiences after every public examination. A formal “Learnings Note” is prepared after each test, recording the challenges encountered, actions taken and practices to be carried forward.

To bring in specialist expertise in testing, psychometrics, information technology, cyber security and operations, the government has notified senior professional appointments across the ten functional verticals. This is intended to ensure that the necessary skills are available in-house and on a continuing basis for the conduct of national examinations.

The Supreme Court has been hearing petitions related to the NEET-UG paper leak, which sparked nationwide protests and demands for a thorough investigation. The leak also led to the resignation of the Education Minister, a rare political casualty in the controversy.

The court is expected to examine the government's affidavit and the recommendations of the task force in subsequent hearings. Meanwhile, students and parents will be looking for clarity on the mode of examination, especially given the massive scale of NEET-UG and its importance for medical admissions in India.