Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan : NEET UG to go computer based from 2026

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan that the NEET UG examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from next year following the controversy surrounding the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak.

Addressing the media in New Delhi, Pradhan said the government has “zero tolerance towards malpractices” and stressed that the shift from OMR sheets to CBT mode aims to strengthen the examination process and prevent future irregularities.

“The root cause of this was OMR and therefore, from next year, the exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test mode,” the minister said.

The announcement comes days after the cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3 following allegations of a question paper leak and widespread criticism over the conduct of the exam.

Pradhan said the National Testing Agency received complaints regarding similarities between a circulated “guess paper” and the actual examination shortly after the test was conducted.

According to the minister, the Higher Education Department immediately initiated an inquiry and coordinated with state agencies. By May 12, authorities confirmed that the actual exam questions had allegedly been leaked under the guise of study material or guess papers.

The government later decided to cancel the exam and order a fresh test in the interest of deserving students. The NEET UG 2026 re-examination is now scheduled to be held on June 21.

“We did not want any deserving student to be deprived of their rights due to the machinations of fraudulent candidates or the conspiracies of the education mafia,” Pradhan said.

He added that the investigation has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which has already begun probing the alleged leak network and possible insider involvement.

The minister also warned against misinformation being spread on social media and assured students that authorities would ensure strict security measures during the re-examination process.

“We will not let malpractices happen this time. This is a long fight against the examination mafia,” he said.

The NEET UG controversy has triggered nationwide outrage among students and parents, with protests demanding accountability and reforms in the national examination system.