GUWAHATI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday, May 15, announced that the NEET UG examination will be conducted entirely in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from next year, marking a major reform in the national medical entrance examination system.
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Addressing a press conference, Pradhan also confirmed that admit cards for NEET UG 2026 will be issued by June 14, while the re-examination is scheduled to be held on June 21 following the cancellation of the earlier test after authorities confirmed a question paper leak.
Explaining the shift to CBT mode, the Union Minister said the root cause of the controversy lay in the OMR-based examination system. “The root cause of this was OMR and therefore, from the next year, the exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode,” Pradhan was quoted as saying.
He further said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been directed to carry out a detailed probe to identify the breach in the examination chain. According to him, agencies have been instructed to investigate the matter thoroughly and identify everyone involved in the malpractice.
Pradhan reportedly asserted that strict action would be taken against those responsible and warned that any attempt to undermine the credibility of the examination system would face serious consequences.
The minister also announced that candidates would receive refunds of their examination fees and that the upcoming re-examination would be conducted free of cost.
To make the process easier for candidates, he said the National Testing Agency (NTA) would allow students to choose their preferred examination city one week before the test. Transportation arrangements would also be made as far as possible while taking weather conditions into consideration.
Earlier in the day, the NTA officially announced that the NEET UG 2026 re-examination will be conducted on Sunday, June 21, amid mounting criticism and backlash over alleged lapses in the conduct of the examination and the handling of complaints related to the paper leak controversy.