NEET-UG Paper Leak and Examination Reforms

Background and Incident

• The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) faced cancellation due to an alleged paper leak, marking the first instance of such a breach.
• In response, the BJP-led government, amidst allegations in 2024, formed a high-level committee led by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan to suggest reforms.
• A CBI investigation revealed that candidates paid to obtain solved NEET-UG papers before the exam, facilitated by a centre superintendent in Jharkhand.

Recommendations by the High-Level Committee

• Transition to CBT: The committee strongly recommended shifting from pen-and-paper testing (PPT) to computer-based testing (CBT) for enhanced security and efficiency.
• Multi-Session Testing: Suggested conducting exams over multiple sessions to manage large applicant numbers, similar to the JEE(Main) exam.
• Normalisation Process: Emphasized the need for a robust normalisation process to ensure fairness across exam shifts.
• Hybrid Testing Model: Proposed a hybrid model involving secure computer-assisted pen-and-paper testing to prevent breaches during printing and transportation.
• Long-Term Shift to Adaptive Testing: Recommended eventual shift to computer-adaptive testing, tailoring questions to individual candidate levels.

Challenges and Implementation

• Ministry's Role: The NTA conducts NEET-UG on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which is yet to decide on the CBT implementation.
• Normalisation Hurdles: Officials cite normalisation difficulties across 15 shifts as a significant challenge for switching to CBT, potentially leading to litigations.
• Supreme Court Ruling: The health ministry's attempt to conduct the NEET-PG in two shifts was halted by the Supreme Court to ensure fairness.

Current Status and Partial Implementation

• Despite recommendations, NEET-UG continues in a single session and shift.
• The NTA has adopted some recommendations, like collaborating with state and district authorities and implementing Aadhaar-based biometric authentication to prevent impersonation.

The recommendations highlight critical steps to enhance the security and fairness of the NEET-UG examination process, addressing malpractices and ensuring integrity in high-stakes examinations.