The National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) will be completely computer-based beginning in 2020, according to Dharmendra Pradhan’s announcement on Friday. This marks a significant change in the way India’s medical entrance exams are administered.
The recent allegations of paper leaks and subsequent cancellation of the exam, which affected lakhs of aspirants across the country, have heightened concerns over examination integrity, prompting this move.
At a news conference in New Delhi, the minister announced that, in an effort to increase openness, security, and operational efficiency, the government has chosen to switch from a paper-based system to an online examination model.
Although Pradhan admitted that there were mistakes in the chain of command for administering the exams, he promised that they are being fixed and that the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee have already been put into action.
A multi-pronged investigation into the purported breach is being carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation to determine the means by which the examination system was compromised. The minister characterised the matter as a “long and sustained fight” against the education mafia.
In addition, he reassured the students that the government would use all of its administrative tools to stop test cheating and restore faith in the system.
Nearly one month following the initial test, on June 21, the National Testing Agency will administer the NEET re-examination, as the minister also verified. By June 14, admit cards should have been sent out.
There will be a specific one-week correction window where candidates can choose the city where they would like to take the exam. During the retake, students will also have 15 additional minutes to complete the optical mark reader (OMR) sheet.
Pradhan elaborated by saying that applicants would not be charged anything extra to retake the exam and that their original payment would be reimbursed.
As part of its larger effort to update India’s high-stakes examination ecosystem, the government has announced plans to switch to a computer-based model. This will be achieved through better operational oversight, stronger security protocols, and an improved digital infrastructure.
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