NEET UG 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2025 will be held on the same day and in a single shift, following the pen-and-paper mode, as it has in previous years. Although the reform committee had recommended conducting the exam in an online mode (computer-based test) in multiple phases, this plan was revised. According to media reports, the central government made this decision after thorough discussions and recommendations from the committee.
The Ministry of Education, National Medical Commission (NMC), and the Ministry of Health deliberated on the matter before concluding that the pen-and-paper mode would be retained. The government believes that this decision is in the best interest of the students.
Join NEET News 2025 NEET UG 2025: An estimated 28 to 30 lakh candidates expected to appear
The NEET-UG exam is conducted for admission to courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, and BHMS across the country. Currently, more than 1.10 lakh MBBS seats remain vacant in medical colleges nationwide. Last year, approximately 24 lakh candidates applied for the exam, with a significant number of students from rural areas participating. This year, the number of candidates applying is expected to increase, with estimates ranging from 28 lakh to 30 lakh.
NEET 2025: Resources Posed a Challenge for Online Mode
According to media reports, one of the main challenges in conducting a computer-based exam for such a large number of students is the sheer scale of the task. If the exam were to be held online, it would need to be stretched over 10 days, with multiple shifts for question papers and the difficulty of ensuring reliable exam centers. A government official explained that in a computer-based exam, the question papers pass through fewer hands, reducing the risk of issues like paper leaks. However, conducting a computer-based exam for 30 lakh students poses significant challenges.
NEET UG 2025: Decision Made in the Interest of Rural Students
The second reason behind this decision is the significant number of students from rural areas aspiring to become doctors. Officials believe that rural students are not as well-prepared for computer-based exams as their urban counterparts. A sudden shift to online mode just months before the exam could disadvantage these students. However, the government has clarified that the possibility of conducting the exam in online mode in the future has not been entirely ruled out.
