Dr. Vijay Garg
NEET-UG Twice or Thrice a Year? Parliamentary Panel Suggests Reforms Amid Paper Leak Row
India’s largest medical entrance examination, NEET-UG, is once again at the center of a national debate. Following the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and the subsequent cancellation and re-examination process, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has proposed a major reform: conducting NEET-UG two or even three times a year. The recommendation has sparked widespread discussion among students, parents, educators, and policymakers about the future of high-stakes examinations in India.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, chaired by Ram Gopal Yadav, reviewed the conduct of NEET examinations under the National Medical Commission Act. During its deliberations, committee members expressed concern over recurring controversies surrounding the examination and questioned whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent future breaches.
At present, NEET-UG is conducted only once a year. This means that any disruption, whether caused by administrative errors, technical issues, malpractice, or paper leaks, can jeopardize an entire academic year for lakhs of students. Committee members argued that conducting the examination multiple times annually would reduce stress and provide candidates with additional opportunities to improve their scores. It would also ensure that students are not unfairly penalized due to circumstances beyond their control.
The proposal comes in the wake of the NEET-UG 2026 controversy, which led to intense scrutiny of the examination system. Parliamentary panels have repeatedly summoned officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Ministry of Education, and the National Medical Commission to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident and the measures being taken to restore confidence in the examination process.
Supporters of multiple NEET attempts point to the success of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main), which allows students to appear more than once and use their best score. Such a model reduces the pressure associated with a single examination day and accommodates students who may underperform due to illness, anxiety, or unforeseen circumstances. A multi-attempt NEET system could similarly promote fairness and flexibility in medical admissions.
However, implementing the proposal will not be easy. Experts have long highlighted logistical challenges, including the need for multiple question banks, enhanced security arrangements, and coordination of the counselling process. The National Medical Commission had earlier expressed concerns that conducting NEET multiple times could complicate the centralized admission system through which medical seats are allocated across the country.
Another significant reform under consideration is the transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT). Government officials informed the parliamentary panel that the possibility of introducing CBT for future NEET examinations is being examined. Advocates believe that digital testing could reduce the risk of paper leaks and improve examination security. Nevertheless, lawmakers emphasized the importance of ensuring equal access for students from rural and remote areas, where digital infrastructure and computer familiarity may still be limited.
In response to the recent controversy, authorities have already introduced unprecedented security measures for the upcoming re-examination. These include strict isolation of question-paper setters, multilayered monitoring systems, secure transportation protocols, and enhanced surveillance to prevent malpractice. Such measures underscore the urgency with which policymakers are attempting to restore public trust in India’s most competitive medical entrance examination.
The broader issue extends beyond a single examination. Repeated controversies have raised questions about accountability, examination governance, and the capacity of existing institutions to conduct high-stakes tests involving millions of candidates. Many observers believe that the current crisis presents an opportunity to undertake comprehensive reforms in examination design, technology adoption, security management, and institutional oversight.
Whether NEET-UG will eventually be conducted two or three times a year remains uncertain. Government officials have indicated that the committee’s suggestions will be examined before any final decision is taken. Nevertheless, the proposal reflects a growing consensus that India’s examination system must evolve to meet the expectations of transparency, fairness, and reliability demanded by today’s students.
For millions of medical aspirants, the debate is about more than examination schedules. It is about creating a system that rewards merit, minimizes uncertainty, and ensures that a student’s future is not determined by a single day or compromised by failures in the examination process. The coming months may therefore prove pivotal in shaping the future of medical admissions in India.
Dr. Vijay Garg
Retired Principal
Educational Columnist and Eminent Educationist
Street Kour Chand, Malout, Punjab
