Govt eyes 5-6 day computer-based NEET 2027 across nearly 1,000 exam centres, 'Top to bottom' NTA revamp

New Delhi: Following the NEET UG 2026 re-examination held on June 21, after the cancellation of the original May 3 exam due to a paper leak controversy, the Centre is preparing to overhaul the organisation of the National Testing Agency (NTA) along with a change in the NEET exam process.

From 2027 onwards, NEET UG, the country's largest medical entrance examination, is expected to be conducted as a computer-based test over five to six days.

Along with the change in the examination format, the central government is also planning a complete restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting NEET UG and several other national entrance examinations.

Also read- Parliamentary panel suggests multi-phase NEET, separate exams for MBBS, AYUSH, Nursing

According to sources quoted by The Indian Express, the revamp will cover the agency's organisation, technology, infrastructure and examination processes, and is expected to be completed before October.

The NEET-UG for admission to undergraduate medical education will from next year be a computer-based test conducted across five-six days at around 1,000 centres in 500 cities, mainly government institutions such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, with around 5 lakh candidates to be accommodated each day, as reported by The Indian Express.

"We are going to change the entire organisation of the NTA, from top to bottom," sources said.

The proposed reforms are based on the recommendations of the seven-member committee headed by former K. Radhakrishnan, which was constituted after the 2024 NEET paper leak to suggest measures for strengthening the examination system.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a High-Level Committee, headed by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, was constituted on June 22, 2024, following the 2024 paper leak controversy to suggest measures to ensure a foolproof examination process. The committee recommended structural reforms, enhanced examination security systems, institutional coordination mechanisms, and standard operating procedures to prevent future breaches in both pen-and-paper and computer-based examinations. Among them, conducting the examination entirely online was among the key recommendations made by the committee.

The decision to move NEET UG online was first announced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on May 15 while announcing the 2026 re-examination. He had said the committee had recommended shifting the examination from the traditional pen-and-paper mode to a computer-based test.

As per sources, a detailed notification, including shift timings, the list of test cities and other details, is expected to be issued after the proposed NTA revamp is completed.

Regarding the investigation into the 2026 NEET UG paper leak, sources said, "As far as criminal action is concerned, investigations are going on and no one will be spared if he or she has committed the crime."

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education recently suggested that the NEET UG be conducted in multiple phases instead of on a single day to reduce the logistical challenges associated with conducting the country's largest medical entrance examination.

The suggestion was made during a meeting where officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Ministry of Education briefed Members of Parliament on the conduct of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination and proposed reforms, including a future transition to a computer-based test (CBT).

NEET Cancelled

The NEET UG 2026 exam was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency and was held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in pen-and-paper mode. Over 22.7 lakh aspirants appeared for the examination this year. It took place across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, covering over 5,400 centres.

However, on May 12, 2026, the NTA declared the examination held on May 3 cancelled and subsequently announced a re-examination on June 21, 2026.

This came in the backdrop of the probe by the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group, which reportedly found a “guess paper” containing more than 100 questions similar to those asked in the NEET UG examination. The question paper series under scrutiny has been described as a “guess paper” which reportedly contained around 410 questions. Out of these, nearly 120 questions are alleged to have appeared in the Biology and Chemistry sections of the examination.

In the aftermath of the exam cancellation, protests were held, with aspirants and members of the medical fraternity condemning NTA and the Education Ministry for the failure.

Due to the alleged controversy, the central government decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations. Based on the Centre's direction, the CBI registered an FIR in the case and so far arrested 13 people.

Also read- Cancelled exam, broken momentum: NEET aspirants fight anxiety ahead of re-test