New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed the Supreme Court that it plans to conduct NEET-UG in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from 2027, marking a major shift in India's medical entrance examination system.
The proposed change comes after concerns over paper leaks, exam security, and transparency in recent years. According to NTA, adopting a digital examination system could make the process more secure, transparent, and efficient.
The agency clarified that NEET-UG 2026 will continue to be held in the existing pen-and-paper (OMR) format. The Supreme Court also declined a plea seeking to conduct the 2026 examination in CBT mode.
If implemented, the new system will eliminate OMR sheets, reduce the risk of paper leaks, speed up result processing, and require candidates to take the exam on computers, similar to JEE Main and CUET.
Education experts have advised students planning to appear for NEET 2027 and beyond to begin practicing CBT-based mock tests to become familiar with the digital exam format.
NTA is yet to issue a detailed notification regarding the exam pattern, number of questions, shifts, and other guidelines for the proposed CBT format.
