NEET UG is world’s fifth largest exam; online transition from 2027 discussed

NEET UG, India’s national medical entrance examination, has been identified as the world’s fifth largest exam, according to a recently published State Bank of India Research report. This places it among a group of global examinations, with China’s Gaokao leading the list.

Concurrently, discussions are underway within the Ministry of Education for NEET UG to transition from its current pen-and-paper format to an online, computer-based testing (CBT) mode, potentially commencing from 2027. This strategic shift aims to enhance the examination’s infrastructure and accessibility.

NEET UG’s Global Standing and Proposed Format Change

The State Bank of India Research report highlights NEET UG’s significant scale, noting 2.5 million candidates. For NEET-UG 2024, over 24 lakh candidates registered, underscoring the exam’s substantial reach within India. The Ministry of Education is actively formulating a national examination-grade CBT infrastructure strategy to support a painless transition to an online format for medical entrance examinations.

A senior Ministry of Education official stated, “A national examination-grade CBT infrastructure strategy is being formulated to close the geographic gap in test-centre availability, standardise centre-level examination-grade specifications and to permit the migration to CBT from the pen-and-paper mode examinations. The strategy is under active consideration based on a multi-model sourcing architecture.” The National Testing Agency (NTA), which handled 1.12 crore registrations from January to October 2023, conducts exams in computer-based, pen-and-paper, and hybrid modes.

World’s Largest Examinations

China’s Gaokao, the national college entrance exam, leads the global list with 1.29 crore registrations in 2026. The modern Gaokao was introduced in 1952 and is a single exam determining university and college admissions. It assesses knowledge in Chinese, Maths, English, and subjects of choice among Humanities, Science, and Commerce. The exam is known for its rigorous security measures, including AI-powered cameras and drones to prevent malpractices.

Brazil’s ENEM ranks as the second largest exam globally with 4.8 crore students. China also features prominently with its Guokao civil-service exam and the National master’s entrance exam, both attracting millions of candidates annually. The following table details the top 10 largest examinations worldwide:

Impact and Concerns Surrounding NEET

Putting in spot NEET has been a subject of debate, with the union government implementing it against the interests of some states. The Government of Tamil Nadu constituted a High Level Committee in 2021, chaired by Justice A. K. Rajan, to study the effect of NEET on medical admissions in the state, particularly concerning social, economic, and federal polity, and students from rural/urban poor, government schools, or Tamil medium backgrounds.

Concerns have been raised regarding the affordability of medical education post-NEET, with private medical institutions charging tuition fees as high as Rs. 30 Lakhs per annum. Also, students have secured seats with NEET scores as low as just a pass, sometimes less than 20 percent of the total marks. The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) in its 92nd Report had predicted that a unitary Common Entrance Exam would tackle capitation fees and increase transparency, stating, “if a unitary Common Entrance Exam is introduced, the capitation fee will be tackled in a huge way; there will be transparency in the system; students will not be burdened with multiple tests; and quality will get a big push.” However, critics argue that the culture of coaching and commercialization caused by NEET has discouraged vulnerable communities. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s observation that “examination is something quite different from education” has also been cited in this context.

NTA’s Role in Examination Conduct

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is a significant examination conducting body, projected to register over 1.23 crore people for various exams in the 2023 calendar year. Subodh Kumar Singh, director general, NTA, stated, “The complete technology-driven and advanced scheduling has helped NTA conduct so many exams on time, announce results on schedule and deliver each exam securely.”

The NTA handles a diverse range of exams, including entrances, recruitment, eligibility, and certification tests. In India, other major examinations include JEE Main for engineering admissions, UPSC CSE, and UGC-NET. The following table illustrates the scale of top examinations in India:

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.

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