NEET-UG to be computer-based from next year, says education minister

The undergraduate National Eligibility cum Entrance Test will be computer-based from next year, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday.

The announcement came against the backdrop of the cancellation of the test conducted on May 3, following allegations of a paper leak. The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.

This year, more than 22 lakh candidates had appeared for the test.

Pradhan said on Friday that the decision to cancel the exam was taken in favour of meritorious students.

There was a “breach” in the command chain despite the National Testing Agency following recommendations submitted by the Radhakrishnan committee, said Pradhan.

“We accept it and take responsibility to improve it,” the minister added.

He was referring to the high-level committee, led by former Indian Space Research Organisation Chairperson K Radhakrishnan, that was formed after allegations of paper leaks and irregular grace marks emerged in the NEET-UG exam in 2024.

The committee had reportedly submitted 95 recommendations to reform the process.

Despite this, the test on May 3 had to be cancelled after the Rajasthan Special Operations Group began investigating allegations that a “guess paper” circulated before the examination contained questions closely matching the actual paper.

The “guess paper” contained around 410 questions, of which about 120 matched the questions asked in the chemistry...

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