The Ministry of Education is considering a proposal to conduct the NEET exam in online mode. This could bring several advantages for medical aspirants across India.
Increasing Seats and Rising Aspirant Numbers
According to a reply from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 1 August 2025, there are 115,900 MBBS seats across 780 medical colleges. An update from the National Medical Commission on 26 September 2025 shows 124,825 seats across 809 colleges. The number of seats is expected to grow in the coming years. With this large scale, conducting a paper-based exam has become increasingly challenging.
Advantages of Online NEET Exams
Conducting NEET in paper-and-pencil mode for over a lakh candidates is difficult. Issues such as impersonation, dress code violations, and paper leaks are common. The online mode can address many of these problems.
Reduced Logistics and Improved Security
Online exams require fewer exam centres. The need for large personnel teams to supervise the exam will also decrease. Question paper leaks will be prevented, as each candidate will receive a computer-generated paper with the same difficulty level.
Flexible Exam Scheduling
With online tests, NEET can be held across multiple days or sessions in a day. This ensures a commotion-free exam for candidates. Additionally, the test can be conducted twice a year, helping aspirants who miss the first attempt or wish to improve their scores. This was not possible with offline exams.
Conclusion
Switching to the online mode for NEET can improve security, reduce logistical challenges, and offer greater flexibility for candidates. The move is being considered carefully by the Ministry of Education.
