NEET UG May Go Online As Education Ministry Prepares Strategy To Upgrade Computer-Based Testing Infrastructure

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Education is working on a strategy to boost the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) infrastructure across the nation, with an aim of shifting the NEET-UG from pen-and-paper to online mode.

Officials said the possible shift is being worked out, but a final decision is expected only after the Nandan Nilekani-led High-Powered Task Force on examination reforms submits its recommendations.

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The move intends to create an examination-grade system that can support national-level entrance exams across the country, with a focus on increasing the availability of examination centres, standardising infrastructure and making it possible to move more exams from offline to computer-based testing (CBT) mode.

The strategy is being prepared to “close the geographic gap” in the availability of test centres and standardise examination-grade specifications. The model will use multiple sources for providing the required infrastructure, a PTI report quoted a senior Ministry of Education official as saying.

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The medical entrance exam has so far been conducted using pen-and-paper and OMR sheets. The NTA was in for wide criticism from across the country over the NEET UG paper leak this year.

Supreme Court also pulled up the NTA over the paper leak, observing that the testing agency did not learn from the past mistakes. The massive protests across the country, especially the one at Jantar Manta in New Delhi, led to resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

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The government is now examining the infrastructure needed for the shift, the sequencing of the transition and the availability of centres. It is also considering its impact on the candidates from rural areas, women and students from districts with poor internet connectivity.

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to provide details of the steps taken to implement the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan committee and the Nilekani task force.

The top court has stressed that reforms to the NEET process should be institutionalised rather than depend on temporary arrangements.

The CBT infrastructure plan is being prepared as part of the massive examination reforms.

The NTA conducts several major examinations in CBT mode, including JEE-Main, CUET-UG, CUET-PG, UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC-NET. The NEET UG remains among its biggest paper-based examinations, with around 25 lakh candidates appearing for it every year.

The scale of NEET makes the transition demanding. The system will need enough examination centres, digital equipment, reliable Internet and power connectivity and security arrangements.