NEET UG 2027: Education minister reviews NTA readiness for CBT shift, 5 lakh daily capacity planned

Union Minister of Education Pralhad Joshi convened a meeting with National Testing Agency (NTA) officials in New Delhi on 2 October 2026 to review the preparations for national-level examinations, with a particular focus on NEET UG 2027. The discussions centered on strengthening exam security, improving the student experience, and enhancing coordination across the examination ecosystem, following the NEET paper leak controversy in 2026.

The meeting comes as the Ministry of Education actively considers a significant shift for NEET UG 2027 from its traditional pen-and-paper format to a Computer-Based Testing (CBT) mode. This transition, publicly confirmed by then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 15 May 2026, is part of broader reforms aimed at ensuring leak-proof examinations and greater transparency for the approximately 25 lakh candidates who appear for NEET-UG annually.

Shift to Computer-Based Testing for NEET UG 2027

The Ministry of Education is developing a nationwide Computer-Based Testing infrastructure strategy for NEET UG 2027. This strategy is under active consideration, awaiting the final report from the Nandan Nilekani-led task force, which was constituted to overhaul India’s public examination systems. The Supreme Court was informed on 18 September 2026 that the switch to CBT mode for NEET-UG 2027 is under ‘active consideration’ and directed the Nilekani task force to file an affidavit within two weeks from that date.

A senior Ministry of Education official stated that a national examination-grade CBT infrastructure strategy is being formulated to close the geographic gap in test-centre availability, standardize centre-level examination-grade specifications, and permit the migration to CBT from pen-and-paper examinations. The NTA currently conducts JEE-Main, CUET-UG and PG, UGC-NET, and CSIR UGC-NET in computer-based mode. The proposed CBT for NEET UG 2027 is planned to be conducted over five to six days across approximately 1,000 examination centers in about 500 cities nationwide.

Planned Infrastructure and Capacity for CBT

The NTA’s current CBT infrastructure can handle approximately 1.5 lakh candidates per shift, with plans to scale this to around 10 lakh within a year. For NEET UG 2027, the daily candidate capacity is projected to be approximately 5 lakh candidates per day, with about 500 candidates per center per day. Primary center types for CBT are government institutions like Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NV), supplemented by select reputed private institutions.

The official notification for NEET UG 2027, covering shift timings, test cities, and center selection, is likely to be released between November 2026 and January 2027. The CBT transition aligns with recommendations from a seven-member high-level committee chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, formed after the NEET UG 2026 original examination was canceled due to a paper leak controversy, leading to a re-examination on June 21, 2026, with results expected by July 20.

Enhanced Security and NTA Restructuring

Following the 2026 paper leak controversy, which affected nearly 23 lakh students, significant measures have been taken to enhance the security and integrity of the examination process. The NTA’s confidential operations have been relocated to a dedicated 55,000 sq. ft. government facility at Minto Road, secured by CISF personnel. This move is part of a broader effort to prevent future leaks and ensure a transparent examination system.

The NTA leadership has been upgraded with a secretary-level officer as its Director-General, and open recruitments are underway for specialists in security, human resources, and research and development. The NTA restructuring is expected to be completed by October 2026. Minister Joshi also held a separate meeting with higher education department officials to assess areas needing attention, emphasizing innovation, adaptability, and student-centric approaches.

Further reading

• NEET UG 2026: Uttarakhand opens Round 3 NRI quota MBBS registration until 5 October
• Kerala NEET third phase option registration for MBBS, BDS courses closes October 10
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• Ladakh Central Pool MBBS/BDS: Apply by Sep 10 for 2026-27 single merit list Applications open
• Common University Entrance Test application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG): complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →