Overview

NEET-UG is set to move to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) mode "very soon," according to National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Kumar Singh. Speaking to news agency ANI, Singh confirmed that the Nandan Nilekani-led high-powered task force is actively working on the transition plan for taking NEET-UG online. "All our examinations are CBT except the NEET examination. On NEET also, we will be moving to CBT very soon," Singh said, directly linking the shift to the ongoing work of the Nilekani panel.

Singh, a 1995-batch IAS officer who took charge as NTA Director General on 1st April 2026, noted that NTA already conducts several major exams - including JEE Main, UGC-NET, CUET, and NIFT - entirely in CBT mode, and that NEET-UG remains the notable exception among the agency's exams still held offline.

NEET-UG was previously the only major national exam conducted on physical OMR sheets, while exams like JEE, CUET, and UGC-NET are already fully computer-based 

Type

This is a policy and infrastructure reform announcement regarding the future exam mode of NEET-UG.

It falls under the broader mandate of the Nandan Nilekani-led task force on National Testing Agency (NTA) exam reforms.

The shift being discussed is specifically a move from pen-and-paper mode to Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

State / Authority

The reform initiative is a central government effort, applicable to NEET-UG nationwide.

It is being driven by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting NEET-UG, JEE Main, and other major entrance exams.

The high-powered task force guiding this reform was constituted by the Government of India following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy.

Provider

The National Testing Agency (NTA), under Director General Subodh Kumar Singh, is responsible for implementing any eventual shift of NEET-UG to CBT mode.

The Nandan Nilekani-led task force is responsible for recommending the structural and technology-driven reforms needed to make this transition possible.

The task force's recommendations are expected to guide the government's final decision and rollout timeline for NEET-UG CBT.

Key Details on the NEET-UG Online Transition

NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh confirmed to ANI that NEET-UG will move to CBT mode "very soon."

The Nandan Nilekani-led high-powered task force is currently working on the plan for this transition.

NTA already conducts JEE Main, UGC-NET, CUET, and NIFT examinations in CBT mode — NEET-UG remains the only major NTA exam still held offline.

Singh stated that CBT requires augmenting existing testing infrastructure and building additional safeguards before rollout.

NTA is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to improve both testing processes and fraud prevention.

The Supreme Court has stated it will consider the Nilekani task force's recommendations on making NEET-UG a computer-based test before making any final directions on the matter.

The push for NEET-UG CBT follows the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy and the subsequent cancellation and re-examination that triggered nationwide student protests.

Key Background & Context

The Nilekani-led task force was constituted by the central government specifically to recommend reforms strengthening NTA's examination security and technology systems.

Proponents of NEET-UG CBT argue that a fully online exam reduces the risk of paper leaks, since question papers would no longer need to be physically printed and transported to exam centres.

Concerns remain around equitable access for candidates in rural areas who may have limited access to computers or reliable internet connectivity — an issue the task force is expected to examine.

No official date has been announced for when NEET-UG will actually transition to CBT mode; Singh's statement confirms the plan is in progress, not that a rollout date has been finalized.

What to Do Now

Keep track of official statements from NTA and the Ministry of Education, since a formal notification - not a general statement - will confirm the actual exam mode for any specific NEET-UG cycle.

Don't assume the very next NEET-UG cycle will automatically be conducted online, since Singh's statement describes an ongoing plan rather than a confirmed date.

If you're currently preparing for an upcoming NEET-UG cycle, continue your preparation as usual, since core subject knowledge and problem-solving skills remain unaffected regardless of whether the exam is eventually held in pen-and-paper or CBT mode.

Students already comfortable with computer-based exams, may find the eventual shift to NEET-UG CBT a smaller adjustment than expected. 

Key Things to Remember

• NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh has confirmed NEET-UG will move to Computer-Based Testing "very soon," with the Nilekani-led task force actively working on the plan.

• NEET-UG is currently the only major NTA exam still conducted offline; JEE Main, UGC-NET, CUET, and NIFT are already CBT-based.

• The push follows the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, and the Supreme Court has said it will weigh the task force's recommendations before issuing directions.

• No official rollout date for NEET-UG CBT has been announced yet — this remains a plan in progress.

This article is based on statements made by NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh to ANI, and related reporting on the Nandan Nilekani-led task force on NTA exam reforms. Candidates should verify the confirmed exam mode for any specific NEET-UG cycle through official NTA notifications once released.