Amid mounting outrage over the NEET paper leak controversy, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced a major overhaul of the NEET examination process, saying the medical entrance test will be conducted in a computer-based format from next year.
"From next year, NEET exam will be computer-based as they are better than OMR-based tests," the minister said. "CBT (computer-based test) mode of exam is comparatively better than OMR. It is a bit protected. Cybercrime has become a big world in itself. There are challenges, however, we will have to trust the system of our country."
Addressing a press conference, Pradhan also said the Central Bureau of Investigation had been tasked with conducting a deep investigation into the entire chain of events, including identifying how the question paper was accessed and distributed.
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“The CBI will identify the breach of command. CBI will dig deep and not spare anyone. Whether someone is within the NTA or outside it, no one will be spared," he said.
The union minister further informed the National Testing Agency will refund examination fees to affected candidates and no additional fee will be charged for the re-examination.
Pradhan acknowledged that the government had received early indications of malpractice linked to the medical entrance exam and confirmed that investigators were now treating the issue as a serious breach involving organised networks.
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“We got information on May 7, and by May 12 we were certain that the paper had been leaked,” Pradhan said, adding that the leaked material had been circulated “in the garb of guess papers”.
The minister added that social media platforms had been widely used to spread the leaked content and facilitate malpractice ahead of the exam.
“We accept breaches had been made and we take responsibility. Not shifting accountability. We will leave no room for any irregularities. We will make needful changes...many loopholes need to be fixed,” the minister said.
What happened this year?
The controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026 escalated sharply after the NTA, with the approval of the Centre, cancelled the medical entrance examination conducted on May 3 and announced that the test would be held again on fresh dates.
The decision followed mounting allegations of a paper leak, irregularities in the conduct of the examination and concerns raised by investigative agencies over the integrity of the process.
In its official statement, the exam agency said it had reviewed inputs received in coordination with central agencies and law enforcement authorities, which pointed to serious lapses that could compromise the sanctity of the examination.
NTA stated that allowing the existing process to continue would damage public confidence in the examination system. The Centre subsequently handed over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has launched a nationwide inquiry into the alleged leak network.
The controversy deepened after the CBI arrested five people allegedly linked to the paper leak case.
The accused were arrested from Rajasthan, Haryana and Maharashtra, pointing to what investigators believe may be a multi-state network involved in procuring and circulating examination material.
According to ET Bureau report, the agency conducted searches at multiple locations and seized electronic devices and documents suspected to be linked to the leak.
Investigators are examining the alleged role of a group based in Jaipur, including two brothers accused of obtaining question papers through intermediaries connected to Gurugram and Nashik.
The arrests also triggered a political controversy in Rajasthan after opposition leaders alleged links between one of the accused and the BJP’s youth wing, a charge dismissed by local BJP leaders.
The issue has now reached the Supreme Court as well.
A petition filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association has sought a court-supervised re-conduct of NEET-UG 2026 and a complete overhaul of the NTA.
The plea has urged the court to consider replacing or restructuring the testing agency through an autonomous and technologically stronger mechanism to conduct national examinations. It has also proposed the creation of a judicially monitored committee, comprising experts in cybersecurity and forensic science, to oversee future examinations and restore trust in the system.
