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JEE Main has already shown that a national entrance exam can operate through multiple CBT shifts. Why is doing the same for NEET a much bigger infrastructure challenge?
JEE Main’s existing CBT system offers a working example for NEET. (File/Representative Image)
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) and JEE Main are both among India’s largest national entrance exams, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Yet while JEE Main has been conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for years, NEET continues to be held using pen-and-paper, or OMR sheets.
However, the most striking difference is the scale of the two exam is compared. NEET UG 2026 had around 22.79 lakh registered candidates and was conducted across more than 5,432 centres in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. While JEE Main, which is already designed around a multi-session, multi-shift CBT model had around 11.23 lakh candidates for its April session.
While JEE Main shows that India has the technology to conduct a large computer-based exam, the larger question is, whether NEET, with nearly 23 lakh candidates, can be shifted to CBT while maintaining sufficient centre capacity, geographic accessibility and a level playing field.
Since JEE Main is conducted in multiple sessions and shifts, the entire candidate population does not have to sit at computers simultaneously. This allows the exam to use a finite pool of CBT centres repeatedly.
NEET, on the other hand, has traditionally been structured around a common exam conducted in one main session. A shift to CBT would therefore require either a very large expansion of exam-grade computer infrastructure or a move towards multiple shifts — which would create another challenge: ensuring that candidates appearing at different times receive an equivalent testing experience.
Would NEET Need Multiple Shifts?
JEE Main already operates through multiple shifts. Its 2026 examination was conducted over several dates, allowing NTA to distribute candidates across available computer infrastructure.
For NEET, adopting a similar model could substantially reduce the number of computers required at any one time. But it would also mean that different groups of candidates would take different question papers.
That makes question-paper difficulty and score comparability important. A multi-shift NEET would require a robust system for ensuring that one shift is not advantaged or disadvantaged by the difficulty of its paper.
The Geographic Challenge
NEET 2026 covered 551 Indian cities, in addition to 14 cities outside India. It also operated more than 5,432 examination centres. While JEE Main covered around 323 exam cities. A CBT transition would require exam-grade computers, reliable electricity, network infrastructure, technical staff and contingency arrangements across a similarly wide geographic footprint. A reduction in the number of available centres could increase the distance some candidates have to travel.
While JEE Main’s existing CBT system offers a working example, conducting NEET online for a larger number of candidates would require a more detailed and well-thought-out process.
Quick Answers
Ask News18While JEE Main has been conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for years using multiple sessions and shifts, NEET continues to be held using a traditional pen-and-paper or OMR sheet format. Additionally, JEE Main operates with encrypted digital servers and multiple shifts, whereas NEET is traditionally structured as a common exam held in a single main session.
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October 01, 2026, 12:31 IST
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