New Delhi; The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education has proposed conducting the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) in multiple phases across different states to reduce the logistical burden of holding the examination nationwide on a single day, sources reported.
During a meeting chaired by Congress MP Mukul Wasnik on July 1, officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Testing Agency (NTA) briefed Members of Parliament on the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination and plans to transition to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
Committee chairperson Mukul Wasnik and members praised the secure and well-managed conduct of the June 21 re-examination.
Some MPs suggested that the NTA consider adopting exam practices similar to those of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Members also proposed separate entrance exams for MBBS, AYUSH, and Nursing courses to reduce the number of candidates in a single test. However, the NTA informed the committee that admissions to these courses are based on NEET scores, making separate exams unfeasible.
Sources confirmed that the committee recommended multi-phase NEET examinations across states to lessen the operational pressure. NTA officials indicated that any decision on phased exams would require approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the nodal ministry for NEET.
NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, and former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, who leads the steering committee overseeing NTA reforms, attended the meeting.
In its presentation, the NTA detailed security measures implemented for the June 21 re-examination, including temporary Telegram restrictions, monitoring of WhatsApp channels, increased surveillance, and modifications in question paper design to prevent leaks and malpractice.
A source said: “All members of the Parliamentary Committee and the Chairperson appreciated the way the NEET re-exam was conducted. NTA explained the various steps taken, from the Telegram restriction and monitoring of WhatsApp channels to the manner in which the question paper was designed. The Chairperson also appreciated the efforts made to conduct a secure and foolproof examination.”
The committee also discussed the proposed shift to CBT format for future NEET exams, stressing the need for adequate digital infrastructure nationwide before implementation.
According to a source, “The committee said that if NEET is conducted in CBT mode in future, it should be ensured that the required infrastructure is available across the country and all preparations are completed well in advance.”
The original NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3 was cancelled due to allegations of a paper leak. The central government ordered a re-examination conducted on June 21 in pen-and-paper mode under enhanced security. The investigation into the alleged leak is ongoing.
