NEET-UG, CUET-UG, UGC NET 2025 to Undergo Major Overhaul as NTA Shifts Focus to Higher Education Admissions

The Education Minister said that restructuring of the National Testing Agency is required to Enhance Security, Transparency, and Efficiency Amidst Concerns of Exam Integrity and paper Leaks

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will undergo a significant restructuring in 2025, focusing exclusively on conducting entrance exams for higher education institutions, including NEET-UG 2025, CUET-UG 2025, and UGC NET 2025. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan confirmed that, following recommendations from a high-level expert committee led by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, NTA will no longer conduct recruitment exams. This major shift aims to strengthen the integrity of entrance exams and address the ongoing concerns about exam leaks and technical glitches that have plagued national exams in recent years.

The restructuring follows months of scrutiny and complaints about the security of exams like NEET-UG, CUET-UG, and UGC NET. The committee’s report emphasizes the need for stronger security measures, streamlined processes, and enhanced transparency, all of which will be implemented by the NTA in the coming years. The expert panel, appointed in June 2024, made several recommendations to overhaul how these critical exams are conducted to prevent malpractices and provide a more reliable testing system for millions of students across India.

Restructuring to Focus Solely on Education Entrance Exams

As part of the restructuring, NTA will now solely focus on administering entrance exams for higher education, such as NEET-UG, CUET-UG, UGC NET, and other UGC and university-level assessments. This shift comes in response to concerns regarding exam integrity, including the leakage of papers in NEET-UG and irregularities in UGC NET and CUET-UG. The agency, which has been handling both recruitment and educational entrance exams, will now concentrate on refining its processes to ensure greater security and fairness in these high-stakes exams.

Pradhan highlighted that the change is part of a broader government initiative to streamline NTA’s functions and address concerns raised by students, educational institutions, and other stakeholders. “The NTA will be limited to conducting only entrance exams for higher education from 2025 onwards, and will not handle recruitment exams anymore,” he stated, emphasizing that this shift will bring clarity to the agency’s role and responsibilities.

Digi-Exam System for Improved Security and Transparency
A major recommendation from the committee is the introduction of the "Digi-Exam" system, inspired by the Digi-Yatra system in airports, to ensure the identity of each candidate is verified at every stage of the examination process. This system, utilizing advanced technologies such as biometric verification, AI-driven analytics, and Aadhaar integration, will ensure that only the candidate who registered for the exam will be allowed to sit for it. This measure aims to prevent impersonation and other fraudulent practices, which have been key concerns for exams like NEET-UG and UGC NET in the past.

Pradhan explained that the Digi-Exam system will create a foolproof mechanism for authentication during the application, examination, and admission phases. The system will be designed to monitor candidates from the moment they apply for exams, through their entrance tests, all the way to their eventual enrollment at educational institutions.

Multi-Session Testing and Enhanced Exam Infrastructure
In line with the committee’s recommendations, NTA will implement multi-session testing for NEET-UG, CUET-UG, and UGC NET exams. This will help accommodate the increasing number of candidates and reduce the pressure on any single exam session. The panel stressed the importance of a clear and well-defined normalization process for multi-session testing to ensure fairness across the board. This would involve transparent communication about how scores are calculated, especially in the case of exams like NEET-UG and UGC NET, which take place in multiple sessions.

Additionally, the committee suggested that NTA should focus on expanding the network of testing centers across the country, including centers in districts and smaller towns. By partnering with Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and reputed universities, NTA plans to establish a nationwide network of 400-500 testing centers. These centers will be equipped to handle Computer-Based Tests (CBT), providing a standardized and secure testing environment for students. This expansion of testing centers will not only improve the accessibility of exams but also reduce the chances of security lapses.

Changes to NEET-UG, CUET-UG, and UGC NET Exam Mode

One of the key points in the restructuring process is the proposal to hold NEET-UG 2025, CUET-UG 2025, and UGC NET 2025 in a more technology-driven format. The Ministry of Education is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Health about whether NEET-UG 2025 should be conducted in its traditional pen-and-paper mode or shift to a Computer-Based Test (CBT). Similarly, UGC NET 2025 will likely be held in a CBT format to ensure more efficiency, transparency, and security. The discussions reflect a commitment to modernizing the examination process and making it more accessible to students across the country.

Improved Leadership and Staffing for NTA
The committee also recommended that NTA should be staffed with experts in the education and examination sectors, ensuring that the agency is led by a director-general at the rank of Additional Secretary under the Central Staffing Scheme. This restructuring will involve the creation of at least 10 new verticals, each headed by directors with specialized expertise. These verticals will cover areas such as technology, operations, test security, and surveillance, ensuring a well-rounded approach to exam management.

The committee further suggested the formation of sub-committees to handle test audits, ethics, and transparency, as well as staff conditions and stakeholder relationships. This will ensure that all aspects of NTA’s operations are transparent, ethical, and secure, addressing the concerns that have arisen due to alleged breaches in previous exams like NEET-UG, CUET-UG, and UGC NET.

Conclusion and Future Outlook
As NTA prepares for its restructuring in 2025, the government’s focus is clear: to provide a transparent, efficient, and secure examination system for students aspiring to enter higher education institutions. With the introduction of digital solutions, expanded testing infrastructure, and a focus on the integrity of exams like NEET-UG 2025, CUET-UG 2025, and UGC NET 2025, these reforms will set a new standard for entrance exams in India. As the country moves towards technology-driven exams and increased accountability, the government hopes these changes will restore confidence in the examination process and create a more equitable system for all candidates.

Read More:

• CUET UG 2025 Revamp: Interdisciplinary Flexibility, CBT-Only Mode, and Reduced Subjects Announced
• New RPL Guidelines to Bridge Education-Workforce Gap and Enhance Employability, Says UGC Chairman