Archive · 7 Aug 2026
No Final Decision on NEET UG 2027 CBT Mode
This news is about a big medical college entrance exam in India called NEET UG.
Some people were worried because, in 2026, the exam paper was leaked before the test.
That made many students and doctors' groups upset.
They asked a very important court, the Supreme Court of India, to make the exam safer and fairer.
There were also reports that from 2027, the exam might be taken on computers instead of paper.
The government, called the Centre, told the court that this is not decided yet.
A special committee, led by a famous technology leader named Nandan Nilekani, is studying how to make the exam better.
The government will only change the exam after the committee gives its advice.
So for now, students should wait for official announcements from the exam agency called NTA.
The Centre told the Supreme Court in an affidavit that no final decision has been taken on conducting NEET UG in computer-based test (CBT) mode from 2027.
Any change to the exam format will depend on the recommendations of a high-powered expert committee headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.
Options under discussion include a single-stage computer-based examination or a two-stage model similar to the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
The affidavit was filed ahead of the Supreme Court's hearing on August 6 on petitions from the Federation of All India Medical Association and the United Doctors Front.
The petitions seek examination reforms following concerns over the integrity of NEET UG after the 2026 paper leak controversy.
- Who
- The Centre (Government of India), the Supreme Court, the Nandan Nilekani-led expert committee, and petitioner organisations including the Federation of All India Medical Association and the United Doctors Front.
- What
- The Centre clarified in an affidavit that no final decision has been made on conducting NEET UG in computer-based test (CBT) mode from 2027, with any change dependent on the expert committee's recommendations.
- When
- Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on August 6; no confirmed timeline exists for implementing the transition.
- Where
- India (Supreme Court of India).
- Why
- Petitions sought examination reforms after concerns over the integrity of NEET UG following the 2026 paper leak controversy.
Reform Petitioners
Centre / Expert Committee-led Approach
CBT switch from 2027
Reform Petitioners
Reports suggested a definite shift to computer-based testing from 2027 after the former Union Education Minister announced in May that the NTA was planning CBT mode.
Centre / Expert Committee-led Approach
The Centre says no final decision has been taken; the format change depends entirely on the expert committee's recommendations, and there is no confirmed timeline.
Examination reforms
Reform Petitioners
Petitioners, including the Federation of All India Medical Association and United Doctors Front, seek reforms to improve transparency, security and fairness after the 2026 paper leak.
Centre / Expert Committee-led Approach
The government says all options are under active consideration and no final roadmap has been approved until the Nilekani-led task force submits its recommendations.
- Exam
- NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate)
- Status
- No final decision on switching to computer-based test (CBT) mode from 2027; proposal under discussion
- Expert committee head
- Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder
- Options under consideration
- Single-stage CBT or two-stage model similar to JEE (Main and Advanced)
- Supreme Court hearing
- August 6
- Petitioners
- Federation of All India Medical Association; United Doctors Front
- Context
- NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy
- Earlier announcement
- Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said in May that the NTA was planning CBT mode