In a significant policy announcement that will change how India conducts its largest medical entrance test, the National Testing Agency (NTA) told the Supreme Court of India in an affidavit filed this week that NEET UG will shift to Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from 2027. The decision follows the confirmed paper leak that led to the cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 exam held on May 3, affecting all 22 lakh registered medical aspirants.
What NTA Said in the Supreme Court
In the affidavit filed before a bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, NTA stated that a High Level Committee of Experts (HLCE) has specifically recommended the transition of NEET UG from pen-and-paper (PPT) mode to CBT mode, along with the introduction of multi-session and multi-stage testing. NTA confirmed that this transition will be implemented from the next examination cycle in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the client ministry for NEET UG.
“Among the major NTA examinations, only NEET UG 2026 was conducted in pen-and-paper mode,” NTA said. All other major NTA exams, including JEE Main, CUET UG, and UGC NET, already operate in CBT mode.
Why This Change Was Recommended
The Radhakrishnan Committee, constituted after the NEET UG 2024 controversy, had strongly recommended shifting to CBT as the most effective way to prevent paper leaks. The OMR-based paper system creates vulnerabilities at the stages of printing, transportation, storage, and distribution of question papers across 552 cities.
What Changes for Students from NEET 2027
- Exam will be conducted on computers at NTA-authorised test centres
- No printed question papers or OMR sheets
- Candidates will be able to review and change answers on screen before submitting
- Accidental marking errors — a common concern in OMR exams — will be eliminated
- The 2026 re-exam on June 21 will still be conducted in pen-and-paper mode
- NEET UG syllabus and paper pattern are expected to remain unchanged in the shift to CBT
This marks the biggest structural change to NEET UG in over a decade and will directly affect students currently in Class 11 who plan to appear for NEET in 2027.
