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Former UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar has supported the Centre’s proposal to gradually shift the NEET examination to a computer-based test (CBT) format. He stated that the current pen-and-paper system, which involves a large number of candidates, has several vulnerable points in the examination process that can be exploited.

His remarks come amid ongoing criticism of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and calls from various groups seeking its restructuring. Kumar emphasized that despite such criticism, the NTA remains essential for conducting large-scale national entrance exams, especially as the number of aspirants is expected to increase in the coming years.

The NTA has already announced that the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination will be conducted on June 21.

Remarks on Exam Cancellation and Student Stress

Commenting on the cancellation of the earlier NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3 and the announcement of the re-test, Kumar said that such decisions naturally cause stress and disappointment among students. He added that educators and parents should support students during this difficult phase. He also noted that the quick announcement of the re-exam date helped reduce uncertainty among candidates.

Concerns Over Pen-and-Paper System

Kumar pointed out that NEET, conducted in pen-and-paper mode for over 20 lakh candidates across thousands of centres, involves multiple stages such as question paper printing, transport, storage, and distribution. According to him, each of these stages creates potential weak links that can be targeted by dishonest elements.

He added that incidents of malpractice indicate that such vulnerabilities have been exploited and mentioned that investigations are ongoing, with action expected against those responsible.

Support for CBT-Based NEET Exam

Welcoming the shift towards CBT mode, he said that computer-based exams can help limit the impact of localised issues. If a problem occurs at one centre, only that centre would be affected instead of the entire exam being disrupted.

He also stated that in cases involving multiple exam sessions, a statistical normalisation method—already used in exams like CUET—can be effectively applied to ensure fairness in scoring.

Future of National-Level Exams

Kumar stressed that with the growing number of candidates in national-level entrance exams, institutions like the NTA are necessary to manage the process efficiently and securely. He also supported ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the examination system and reducing the chances of malpractice.

He encouraged students appearing for the NEET re-exam to stay focused and confident.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated that the government has a zero-tolerance policy toward irregularities in examinations. He also confirmed that admit cards for the re-exam will be released by June 14 and indicated that NEET may shift to a CBT format from next year as part of broader reforms.

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