NEET to Go Fully Computer-Based Next Year: Centre Announces Major Exam Reform
Addressing a press conference, Pradhan also said that the admit cards for NEET UG 2026 will be issued by June 14, while confirming that the re-examination will be held on June 21 following the cancellation of the earlier test over a paper leak.
The traditional pen and paper NEET-UG exam is officially coming to an end. Following a major controversy over a question paper that got leaked, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Friday that the medical entrance exam will take a permanent shift to a computer based test (CBT) format starting next year (2027).
This sudden change arises after the original NEET exam that was held on May 3rd 2026 was cancelled. Upon an investigation done by the CBI and the National Testing Agency (NTA), it is confirmed that the real Biology and Chemistry exam questions were leaked on social media applications like Telegram and WhatsApp before the test even began. The government stated that the physical paper sheets (OMR sheets) are too easy to steal or leak during transit. Moving the exam to secure, encrypted computer screens is the best way to stop the “exam mafia” for good.
While the online exam starts in 2027, the immediate focus is on millions of students who need to retake the cancelled test this year. A fresh offline (pen and paper) re-exam is scheduled for Sunday, June 21, 2026.
To help the stressed students, the government has announced these relief measures:
No extra cost: The NTA will entirely refund the fees from the cancelled May exam. The June 21 re-test is completely free.
Change your location: Students have a one week time frame to change their exam city preference if they have travelled someplace else for vacations.
Extra time: The re-exam will give students an extra 15 minutes (from 2:00pm to 5:15 pm) so that administrative tasks don’t take away from their writing time.
Admit cards: New admit cards will be released on June 14, 2026.
What changes for students from 2027?
No more OMR sheets: Instead of filling in circles with a pen, students will click their answers on a computer screen.
Same Syllabus, New Practice: The exam pattern and syllabus stay exactly the same. However, future students will need to practice using online mock tests to get used to the digital timer and screen layout.
Higher Security: The questions will be locked digitally and sent to exam centers just minutes before the test starts, making it nearly impossible to be leaked again.
By making NEET online, it joins other major national exams like JEE and CUET, which have been computer-based for years.
This article is written by Yashasvi M, a student of St. Francis College for Women, interning with Deccan Chronicle.
