According to Abhishek Singh, Director of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the NEET-UG exam will soon transition from the traditional paper-based format (OMR) to a Computer Based Test (CBT) format. This shift is an important part of NTA's plan to modernize exams and prevent any form of cheating or malpractice.
Currently, NEET-UG remains the only major exam in NTA's portfolio that is not conducted in CBT format. However, other significant exams such as JEE, UGC-NET, CUET, and NIFT have already been converted to a computer-based system.
Speaking with the news agency ANI, NTA Director Abhishek Singh stated that CBT is the future, and all their exams will be conducted in this mode in the near future. Nevertheless, before converting such a large exam as NEET to an online format, NTA must expand its testing infrastructure and significantly strengthen security standards.
Nandan Nilekani's Committee Develops Plan
A highly efficient task force led by Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, is working on implementing this massive change. The committee's main focus is on assessing the technical system, infrastructure, and security requirements needed to conduct the NEET exam using computers across the country. Given the huge number of candidates participating in NEET, implementing this change is a much more complex task than simply changing the format of any other exam. The agency needs to ensure a sufficient number of examination centers, reliable computer systems, and a strict security system nationwide.
AI Technology Will Be Used
To prevent any malpractice during the exam and ensure impenetrable security, NTA is preparing to use Artificial Intelligence (AI). The agency is exploring ways to apply AI to analyze digital logs, data, and other exam patterns to immediately detect any potential instances of cheating or systemic flaws. The main goal of this step is early problem detection and ensuring complete exam transparency without human error or falsification.
Furthermore, as part of long-term planning, NTA is considering conducting this exam in international centers. According to Abhishek Singh, NTA's primary objective is to enhance the transparency, security, and reliability of its testing system within India. Only after this system is fully fortified will the agency begin exploring possibilities for conducting exams globally. These steps are being taken by NTA amid constant demands to tighten examination systems to prevent ticket leaks, proxy candidates, and other violations.