The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is set to move from its existing pen-and-paper format to a computer-based test (CBT) “very soon”, National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Abhishek Singh has said. The proposed shift is part of a broader effort to modernise India’s examination system and strengthen safeguards against malpractice.
Singh said the NTA is working towards moving NEET to CBT mode and that a high-powered task force led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani is also examining the transition. He described computer-based testing as the future of the agency’s examination system.
NEET UG to Shift From Pen-and-Paper to CBT
Unlike several other major examinations conducted by the NTA, NEET-UG has continued to be held in pen-and-paper mode. The proposed transition would bring the medical entrance examination in line with exams such as JEE, UGC-NET and CUET, which are already conducted through computer-based systems.
The move is expected to require a substantial expansion of examination infrastructure across the country. According to the NTA chief, the agency will need to strengthen testing infrastructure and build appropriate safeguards before implementing the new system.
Nandan Nilekani-Led Task Force Working on Exam Reforms
The proposed NEET CBT transition comes amid a wider examination-reform exercise following the controversy surrounding the 2026 NEET-UG examination.
A high-powered task force headed by Nandan Nilekani was constituted to examine ways of improving the examination system, including technology-based safeguards and measures aimed at making national-level tests more secure and transparent.
The task force’s work is part of efforts to strengthen the NTA’s systems after concerns over examination integrity triggered a major student movement and calls for reforms.
NTA Plans AI-Based Measures for Exam Security
The NTA is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in examination management and fraud prevention. Singh said the agency is examining logs, data and analytics to identify potential irregularities and improve the reliability of examinations.
AI-based monitoring could potentially help the agency detect unusual patterns and strengthen safeguards around examination processes. However, the effectiveness of such systems will depend on their implementation, data quality and the safeguards established to prevent technical or administrative errors.
JEE, UGC-NET and CUET Already Use CBT Mode
NEET-UG’s proposed transition would bring it closer to the format already used for several other major NTA examinations.
The agency currently conducts examinations including JEE, UGC-NET and CUET in computer-based mode. Singh said the NTA’s long-term objective is to move all its examinations towards CBT.
For NEET aspirants, the transition could significantly change the way they prepare for and attempt the examination, particularly for candidates who have primarily practised using physical question papers and OMR sheets.
CBT Transition Will Require Infrastructure Expansion
Moving NEET-UG to CBT mode will involve a major logistical challenge because the examination is taken by a very large number of medical aspirants across the country.
The NTA will need adequate computer capacity, reliable power and internet connectivity, secure examination software and contingency mechanisms across testing centres. Singh acknowledged that infrastructure augmentation and additional safeguards would be necessary before the transition.
Ensuring equitable access to properly equipped centres will also be important, particularly for candidates from regions where digital examination infrastructure is less developed.
NTA Looks Beyond Domestic Examinations
The NTA’s technology push extends beyond the proposed NEET transition. Singh said the agency eventually aims to conduct examinations for international and global bodies after strengthening its domestic examination systems.
The agency is also looking at the possibility of conducting cross-border examinations in the future. Singh said the immediate priority is to ensure that Indian examinations are conducted fairly and transparently without malpractice or avoidable errors.
NEET Exam Reform Enters a New Phase
The proposed shift to CBT marks a significant potential change for one of India’s largest entrance examinations. While computer-based testing can offer greater technological control and new security mechanisms, its successful implementation will depend on adequate infrastructure, accessibility and robust contingency measures.
With the NTA now working towards a CBT-based NEET and the Nilekani-led task force examining wider examination reforms, the medical entrance test is entering a potentially significant phase of technological transformation.