Reconsider proposed changes in age limit, exam pattern for NEET, hold exam in 2 stages: Doctor urges NTA

New Delhi: On the proposed changes in the NEET UG examination pattern recommended by a committee headed by former ISRO chief, a Health Activist doctor recently wrote to the National Testing Agency (NTA) to reconsider them.

Pointing out his concerns regarding the proposed changes in the National Eligibility-Entrance Test 2025 exam pattern, attempt limit, and age limit for the test, in the letter dated 09.11.2024, Dr. Vivek Pandey objected to the proposal of introducing an age or attempt limit in the undergraduate medical entrance test highlighting that it would disproportionately affect the students from economically weaker sections.

He also expressed his concerns regarding the multi-session online format for the NEET UG examination and as an alternative suggested adopting a two-stage exam format for NEET-UG, similar to the JEE.

Currently, there is no upper age limit for appearing in the NEET UG examination and similarly, there is no limit to the number of attempts allowed to the NEET UG aspirants. However, the candidates must be 17 years old as of December 31 of the concerned admission year.

Also Read:Supreme Court Extends NEET Expert Panel Report Deadline to November 4

However, a recent media report by Career 360 reported that a committee headed by former ISRO chief, Dr. K Radhakrishnan has recommended introducing some major changes in conducting the NEET exam such as holding the exam online or through hybrid mode (when online mode is not possible to implement), not opting for private exam centres, shifting to a 2-phase exam pattern for NEET, and introducing a restriction to the number of attempts to appear in the NEET UG examination.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Union Ministry of Education had set up the high-level committee to suggest its recommendations to reform the NEET UG examination process after the allegations of paper leak in the NEET UG 2024 exam and amid the pleas before the Supreme Court seeking a re-exam on these grounds.

Dr. Pandey Submits Suggestions to NTA on NEET UG Exam Pattern: 

Writing to NTA, the authority in charge of holding the NEET UG exam, Dr. Pandey expressed his concerns regarding the proposed changes for NEET UG 2025, specifically regarding age and attempt limits, and adopting an online multi-session format for the examination.

"As an RTI activist working across various sectors of the Indian government, including medical and educational reforms, I believe these changes could adversely impact students from disadvantaged backgrounds and lead to significant mental stress," he mentioned in the letter.

Objection to Introduction of Age & Attempt Limit: 

He mentioned that introducing an age or attempt limit would disproportionately affect students from economically weaker sections, who may need more time and resources to prepare for this competitive exam.

"For many such students, rushing into preparation at an early age is neither financially nor emotionally feasible, which could pressure them into costly coaching programs. This added stress may lead to mental health issues, as evidenced by numerous reports of exam-related anxiety and distress among students," Dr. Pandey added.

He referred to the National Medical Commission (NMC) order, through which the age restrictions for NEET, were removed and mentioned that imposing these limits now would counter the intent of the NMC to make medical education accessible to all deserving students, irrespective of age. Therefore, he urged the NTA to honor this order, ensuring equal opportunity for aspirants.

Multi-Session Online Format: 

Dr. Pandey also expressed concerns regarding the proposal of holding the NEET UG in multiple online sessions with normalization that may lead to inconsistencies in question difficulty, making it difficult to maintain a fair, uniform merit list.

"Although normalization can adjust for variance, it cannot fully account for diverse exam conditions and experiences across different sessions. The Supreme Court's 2017 decision emphasized a "One Nation, One Exam" principle for NEET, advocating a single, paper-based format to ensure fairness. Shifting to an online, multi-session model risks compromising exam integrity and the equal treatment of candidates," he added.

Hold NEET in Two Stages: 

To address the high number of NEET applicants without compromising the fairness, Dr. Pandey suggested adopting a two-stage format, similar to JEE. He recommended that NEET may be held in two phases- a preliminary examination (NEET Pre), where an initial screening would be conducted to test the foundational knowledge of the aspirants and filter the aspirants for main exam, and NEET Mains, a single-session, paper-based exam for those who qualify the preliminary stage, conducted nationwide to ensure uniformity and adherence to the Supreme Court's mandate.

"This model would allow the NTA to manage applicant numbers fairly, without the disparities that arise from multi-shift exams, thus maintaining a common merit list," Dr. Pandey mentioned.

He urged NTA to reconsider the proposed age and attempt limitations to provide fair opportunities for all students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, maintain a single-session format for NEET UG, and consider implementing a two-stage exam model as an alternative to multiple shifts, to reduce the number of candidates equitably while alleviating undue stress.

Also Read: Will NEET UG 2025 See a New Exam Pattern? Here's What NTA Says