NEET UG 2027 may keep pen-and-paper option as CBT shift slips to 2028-29, reports say
By TUF News Desk · Published 4 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
NEET UG 2027 aspirants may not have to give up the pen-and-paper exam yet. Reports published on November 2 and 3 say the plan to move the medical entrance test fully online next year has run into opposition from southern states, and a hybrid exam is now on the table.
The Economic Times reported that the possibility of NEET UG 2027 continuing in the pen-and-paper format cannot be ruled out. The wider reforms, it said, may now roll out from the 2028-29 cycle, once a consensus is reached with states.
What a hybrid exam could look like
Under the arrangement now being discussed, NEET UG 2027 could run in both formats. The computer-based test would be held in multiple shifts, on lines similar to JEE Main, and the pen-and-paper exam would run alongside it. The Times of India carried a similar account, while noting that the final decision on the 2027 format has not been announced.
NEET UG is currently a pen-and-paper test, with answers marked on an optical mark recognition sheet.
Why the online switch was planned
The push for computer-based testing followed the controversies and paper leak issues around NEET UG 2026. After that, the Centre announced that the 2027 edition would move to computer-based testing, and a high-powered task force led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani was set up to work out exam reforms.
The longer aim has not changed: a full move to computer-based testing, and later to computer adaptive testing. What has changed is the timetable. Instead of a single jump in 2027, reports describe a gradual transition over two to three years, giving students and states time to prepare.
The southern states’ objections
The strongest reservations have come from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, according to The Economic Times. Students from rural areas and disadvantaged backgrounds may lack the same access to computers, connectivity and exam facilities as city students, and a sudden online-only exam could put them at a disadvantage.
The two states have also pressed for greater weightage to school board marks and for a proper system to compare marks across different school boards. Other states have raised a related point, that students from non-CBSE boards can be at a disadvantage because NEET UG and JEE-style exams draw largely on the CBSE syllabus.
Tamil Nadu is reported to have shared findings from the 2021 Justice A.K. Rajan Committee report on the impact of NEET on the state. That report found NEET UG admissions were less favourable to Tamil-medium, government-school, state-board and disadvantaged-category students.
What happens next
The Nilekani panel has split its work in two. Immediate measures will set out the way forward for the 2027 cycle, while long-term measures will take effect from the 2028-29 cycle. The panel has received more than 54,000 suggestions and feedback, and it now has until January 2027 to submit its report. It is expected to consult leadership in several southern states, then other states. The JEE exam structure will stay unchanged for 2027 and has already been notified by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
For aspirants, the point is to wait for an official word. No final decision has been announced, so a hybrid exam is the direction of discussions, not a confirmed schedule. Updates will come through the official NTA website. Candidates sorting out paperwork can work through the admission documents checklist, and those comparing medical colleges can read how to choose a university in India before shortlisting options.
Frequently asked questions
Will NEET UG 2027 be held only on computer?
Reports say no decision has been taken yet, but a full computer-based switch looks unlikely for 2027. The exam may instead run in both formats.
When could NEET UG move fully to computer-based testing?
Reports point to the 2028-29 cycle for a full transition, after consensus with states and exam infrastructure are prepared.
Why are southern states objecting to a computer-based NEET UG?
Tamil Nadu and Kerala have raised concerns about rural and disadvantaged students, board-mark weightage and equivalence between boards.
Has the NTA announced the NEET UG 2027 exam format?
No final announcement has been made. Follow the official NTA website and treat reports as unconfirmed until then.
Frequently asked questions
Will NEET UG 2027 be held only on computer?
Reports say no decision has been taken yet, but a full computer-based switch looks unlikely for 2027. The exam may instead run in both formats.
When could NEET UG move fully to computer-based testing?
Reports point to the 2028-29 cycle for a full transition, after consensus with states and exam infrastructure are prepared.
Why are southern states objecting to a computer-based NEET UG?
Tamil Nadu and Kerala have raised concerns about rural and disadvantaged students, board-mark weightage and equivalence between boards.
Has the NTA announced the NEET UG 2027 exam format?
No final announcement has been made. Follow the official NTA website and treat reports as unconfirmed until then.
Sources: The Economic Times, The Times of India, Medical Dialogues