Parliamentary committee members proposed phased NEET exams and praised recent re-examination security measures. The Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports met to discuss improvements to the NEET UG examination system. Officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA) provided updates.
Exam Structure Discussions
Committee members suggested separate entrance exams for different medical courses. These include MBBS, AYUSH, and Nursing streams. The goal is to manage the large number of applicants for a single national test.
However, NTA officials stated this is not feasible. Admissions to MBBS, AYUSH, and Nursing are solely based on NEET scores. Separate tests would complicate the admission process.
Phased Examination Proposal
The committee also debated conducting NEET in phases. Instead of a single nationwide exam day, exams could be held across different states at various times. This approach aims to address challenges in administering the world's largest entrance test.
Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
Discussions included the potential adoption of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for NEET. Committee members stressed the need for robust digital infrastructure nationwide. Ample preparation time is also required before implementing CBT.
Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former ISRO Chairman and head of the NTA reform committee, participated in the discussions. Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Vineet Joshi and NTA Director General Abhishek Singh also attended. They briefed the committee on the re-examination process and security protocols.
