Can NTA prevent NEET UG paper leak? Mixed opinions on exam mode 2025

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has recently announced that the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2025 exam will be conducted in pen-and-paper mode. The NEET-UG 2025 will be conducted on a single day and in a single shift. The announcement has stirred mixed reactions among NEET aspirants who were expecting a computer-based test (CBT) mode exam this year.

While some candidates are satisfied with the traditional mode of the NEET UG exam, expressing confidence in the pen-and-paper format , others have raised concerns about the challenges of a single-day, single-shift exam. The decision has sparked a debate on social media, with aspirants, teachers and education institutions sharing their thoughts on X.

An X user raised concerns about the single-day, single-shift exam, stating “They didn’t learn anything from the entire fiasco last year. 25 lakhs printed papers will travel all over India, expecting them not to be leaked is a joke.” Another user commented “Good to know! NEET-UG 2025 to be conducted in Pen and Paper mode (OMR based) in Single day & Single Shift.”

NEET UG 2025 Pen-Paper Mode: Concerns over paper leaks

Sharing his opinion to Careers360 on NEET UG exam mode, Muzaffar Khan, a medical education counsellor from Thane, Maharashtra, said, “I believe it's a good decision. The computer-based test would have created problems for students from remote areas. And conducting the exam in multiple shifts would have caused the same issues as being faced in NEET PG this year.”

“I feel it is a good decision. Proper care must be taken in setting question paper and to avoid paper leakage. Evaluation must be done properly and declaration of results strictly confidentially.” Said, RS Mali, former vice chancellor of Bahinabai Chaudhary North Maharashtra University.

Several cases of malpractice, paper leaks at various exam centres and discrepancies in results were reported in the NEET UG exam last year. After the issues in the NEET UG exam conducted the previous year, candidates have raised concerns regarding the fairness and transparency of the exam system.

NTA has not yet announced the NEET UG 2025 exam date . In a recent update, NTA has asked candidates to use their APAAR ID and Aadhaar-based authentication during the NEET UG registration 2025. Earlier the NTA issued the NEET UG 2025 syllabus on the new official website at neet.nta.nic.in.