NEET UG 2027 to retain pen-and-paper mode amid opposition from southern states

In short

The NEET-UG 2027 examination is likely to continue in a pen-and-paper format.
The Centre's examination reform plan, designed by the Nilekani panel, is now projected for implementation in 2028-29.
Opposition from southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has influenced the delay in reforms.
The Nilekani panel is scheduled to meet with southern state leadership by January 2027 to finalize its report.
Concerns include the impact of Computer-Based Testing on rural students and the weight given to school board marks.

The NEET-UG 2027 examination is likely to retain its traditional pen-and-paper format, with the Centre’s ambitious examination reform plan, designed by the Nilekani panel, now expected to be implemented from the 2028-29 academic cycle. This delay comes amid significant opposition, primarily from southern states, regarding the proposed shift to a new exam format, including Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

The High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) has categorized its recommendations into immediate measures for 2027 and long-term reforms for 2028-29. The ultimate goal remains a fully computer-based format for NEET-UG, moving towards Computer Adaptive Testing in the coming years, similar to the JEE structure which will remain unchanged for 2027. The reform process has been influenced by feedback from over 54,000 suggestions.

Reasons for the Delayed Reforms

The primary reason for the anticipated delay in NEET-UG exam reforms stems from strong reservations expressed by southern states, notably Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These states have raised concerns regarding the potential impact of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) on rural students, who may face disadvantages due to limited access to technology and digital literacy. In addition, there are calls for assigning more weight to school board marks in the admission process and addressing the need for equivalence among different school boards.

Concerns have also been highlighted regarding the disadvantages faced by students from non-CBSE boards, as NEET-UG and JEE-like exams primarily align with the CBSE syllabus. In Tamil Nadu, insights from the 2021 Justice AK Rajan Committee report have been shared, which indicated that NEET-UG admissions tend to be less advantageous for Tamil-medium students, government school students, and those from the state board, particularly among disadvantaged groups.

The Nilekani Panel’s Ongoing Consultations

The Centre’s examination reform plan, designed by the Nilekani panel, is currently undergoing a consultative phase to address the varied feedback received. The panel has until January 2027 to finalize its report. As part of this process, the Nilekani panel is set to engage in extensive meetings with leadership in southern states to understand and mitigate their concerns. Following these discussions, consultations with other regions will be conducted to develop a national consensus on exam reforms.

The High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) has divided its recommendations into two segments: immediate measures for 2027 and long-term measures for exam reforms that will become effective from the 2028-29 cycle. While the immediate measures for 2027 are expected to involve a combination of pen-and-paper format and computer-based testing, the long-term vision under the new framework is for NEET-UG to adopt a multi-shift CBT format, similar to that of the JEE, with an eventual shift to fully Computer Adaptive Testing.

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.

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