The Ministry of Education is working on a national strategy to build examination-grade computer-based testing (CBT) infrastructure for the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, a senior official told PTI on September 30. The proposal is under active consideration, with a final decision expected after the Nandan Nilekani-led task force submits its report.

The plan marks a serious move towards ending the pen-and-paper era for India’s biggest medical entrance test. The strategy aims to close the geographic gap in test-centre availability, standardise technical specifications across centres, and use multi-model sourcing to build capacity. The official said the government wants infrastructure that can handle the exam’s scale without the logistical strain of paper booklets.

The backdrop is well known. The NTA told the Supreme Court on May 29, 2026 that NEET-UG would move to CBT from 2027, and the high-level committee on examinations recommended the shift alongside multi-session and multi-stage formats. The 2026 exam was marred by a paper leak — the May 3 test was cancelled after Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group uncovered a “guess paper.” A national CBT backbone is now seen as the fix.