NEET-UG Likely To Switch From Pen-and-Paper To CBT
The central government is planning to switch the mode of conduct of the NEET – UG exam from pen-and-paper to Computer Based Test (CBT) over the recent allegations of paper leak, cheating, and other malpractices, as per the reports. The controversies surrounding the NEET exams have created a nationwide furor and now have impacted the parliamentary proceedings as well.
Reportedly, investigations revealed that security breaches occurred during the transportation of the question papers. The government is planning to make exams less stressful and more flexible by converting most high-profile exams to a computer-based format similar to JEE-Main, an official source said.
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The decision to change the mode of the exam is also being discussed in the policy-making corridors of the education system. The seven-member panel formed by the Center for exam reforms also discussed the mode of exams – pen-and-paper and computer-based tests and expects to delve further into this. Earlier, Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan also hinted at the potential overhaul of the examination process.
Currently, the NEET exam is conducted in a pen-and-paper format where candidates fill out the OMR sheets which are further scanned to prepare the result.
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Earlier, in 2018, the Education Ministry announced the NEET examination to be conducted in online mode and twice a year from 2019. However, the decision could not materialize over the objection from the health ministry as it came without the proper consultation. The National Medical Commission (NMC) and Health Ministry have supported the pen-and-paper mode of examination since 2017, however, it seems that things may change amid the paper leak incidents.
The NMC has expressed concerns over the normalization process as the conduct of NEET will require multiple shifts and days, which require different papers for different shifts. For result preparation, this requires normalization of marks to consider the differences in the difficulty of the levels of question papers.
