NTA Announces Major NEET Reforms, Computer-Based Testing Under Consideration

Amid ongoing scrutiny over the NEET examination process, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed the Supreme Court that it has implemented extensive reforms to strengthen the transparency, security and credibility of the country's largest medical entrance examination.

In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the agency detailed a series of measures adopted following recommendations made by the High-Powered Committee constituted after previous examination controversies. The NTA stated that NEET-UG remains the only major examination still conducted in pen-and-paper mode and informed the court that a transition to a computer-based, multi-session examination format is being considered from the next cycle after consultations with the Ministry of Health and the National Medical Commission, reports The Telegraph.

The affidavit highlighted major security upgrades, including Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, real-time facial verification, AI-powered CCTV monitoring, installation of mobile signal jammers at over 5,400 examination centres, and deployment of nearly 1.85 lakh CCTV cameras nationwide. The agency also introduced multiple coded question paper sets, encrypted storage systems, enhanced printing safeguards, and a strict chain-of-custody mechanism for transportation of question papers. According to the NTA, these reforms aim to prevent paper leaks, strengthen candidate verification, and ensure a more secure and reliable examination system in the future.