The National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed the Supreme Court that the NEET-UG examination will be conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) format starting from 2027, replacing the current pen-and-paper system. The decision follows consultations with the Central government and recommendations made by a high-level expert committee.
The submission was made before a bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, which is hearing a series of petitions linked to the alleged paper leak that led to the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam held on May 3, 2026.
In an affidavit, the NTA stated that the High-Level Committee of Experts (HLCE), headed by former ISRO chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, had recommended shifting NEET-UG to a CBT format along with introducing multi-session and multi-stage testing. According to the agency, NEET-UG was the only major NTA examination still being conducted in offline mode, while all other large-scale entrance tests are already computer-based.
The NTA said the transition will be implemented from the next examination cycle in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which oversees NEET-UG.
The affidavit was filed in response to the Supreme Court’s May 25 directive while hearing petitions seeking reforms in the NTA, including proposals to restructure the examination body into a more autonomous and robust institution.
The agency highlighted that the Ministry of Education had set up the HLCE in June 2024 to suggest reforms for the NTA. The committee submitted its report in October 2024, containing 101 recommendations. To ensure their implementation, a High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC), also chaired by Dr. Radhakrishnan, was constituted in November 2024.
According to the NTA, many of the committee’s recommendations have already been implemented or are in advanced stages of execution. These include strengthened standard operating procedures (SOPs) for setting, reviewing, and securing question papers.
The agency noted that NEET-UG 2026 was conducted at 5,432 centres with more than 22 lakh candidates appearing for the exam. It added that the re-examination scheduled for June 21, 2026, will be conducted under enhanced security protocols, including multi-layer authentication, improved surveillance, and stronger coordination among agencies.
Defending its actions following the alleged paper leak, the NTA said the cancellation of the May 3 examination and referral of the case to the CBI demonstrated the seriousness with which examination integrity is being treated. It added that full cooperation is being provided to investigators.
Looking ahead, the agency said it will further strengthen the randomisation and rotation systems used for selecting paper setters, moderators, translators, proofreaders, and other personnel involved in high-stakes examinations. It also revealed plans to use artificial intelligence for at least 85% of translation work to reduce human intervention, speed up the process, and minimise security risks.
