NEET in offline mode ‘impractical’, former IIT director suggests prelims, advanced like JEE

NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing protests against the NEET paper leak 2024 and other irregularities, former director of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) V Ramgopal Rao provides another options for the conduct of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test - Undergraduate (NEET UG 2024). He also called conducting a national-level medical exam in pen-and-paper mode “impractical”.

This year, more than 23 lakh MBBS aspirants appeared in the NEET UG 2024 held on May 5. Stating that the number of medical aspirants is growing at 10% rate every year, he said that the exam is now held in 13 languages in more than 5,000 exam centres across the country and abroad.

“Conducting a pen and paper-based exam across so many centers by transporting multiple sets of physical question papers in various languages is impractical. Unlike academic institutions that use their own faculty and staff for exams, NTA relies on third-party vendors and contract staff. Ensuring the integrity of so many people for such a high-stakes exam is challenging and risky,” he wrote on X.

On the other hand, he said conducting an online examination for over 23 lakh students in one sitting is unfeasible, as the maximum number of secure computer terminals available per session is about 2.5 lakh candidates. Notably, the JEE Advanced exam, the largest computer-based test in the country, accommodates no more than 2 lakh students.

Tagging the education ministry, he wrote: “Make #NTA a constitutional body similar to #UPSC, leaving exams and education to educationists through this body.”

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NEET like JEE

He suggested that the NEET exam be conducted similar to the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE). The National Testing Agency (NTA) holds JEE Main exam 2024 online in multiple sessions and qualified candidates get to appear in JEE Advanced 2024, which is a gateway for admission in IITs .

The former IIT Delhi director said: “Similar to JEE Mains, NEET Prelims can be conducted by NTA over multiple sessions and be computer-based. Each batch can accommodate about 2 lakh students, with exams spread over two months using a large question bank. Each student gets a unique set of questions arranged randomly, reducing the risk of paper leaks . Ensuring computer security against hacking is crucial and achievable with expert help. Allow students to take the exam twice, considering the best score for shortlisting. Make scores available immediately after the exam. Normalization is not a challenge since it's only a shortlisting exam.”

NEET Advanced

“For about 2.5 lakh candidates shortlisted through NEET Prelims, conduct NEET Advanced, managed entirely by AIIMS. This computer-based test, similar to JEE Advanced, should probe understanding of concepts. Institutional ownership and commitment are essential to maintain sanctity and integrity. Important to have AIIMS own and take control of the NEET Advanced,” he said.