NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that a decision will be taken soon to make the medical entrance exam NEET online.

In the wake of the question paper leak, the government is attempting to implement it next year. The exam is conducted for admission to MBBS, BDS, Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani undergraduate courses. The Ministry of Health will make the final decision.

In the wake of the controversies, a seven-member expert committee headed by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former chairman of ISRO and a Malayali, was tasked to prepare a report. The report containing 101 recommendations has been forwarded to the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Court.

The recommendations will be implemented in next year's examination, and the protocol for conducting the test will be included. From 2025 onwards, NTA will conduct only NEET, JEE, and Common University Entrance Test (CEUT). No recruitment tests will be held. NTA will be reorganised by creating new posts and appointing more officers.

Recommendation of the committee

1. Computer-based exam would be ideal

2. Artificial intelligence and biometric technology to ensure security

3. Strong guidelines to prevent irregularities

4. Mock examination to be conducted to sort out errors

5. Action to reduce exam stress for students

6. Special cell to address student concerns

7. Cyber ​​security to secure the question paper

8. Coaching centres should not be allowed to misuse the examination to reap profits.

9. The entrance test should be conducted in January or February.

Outsourcing and contracting services should be limited if the exam is conducted in pen and paper offline mode. Security requires a hybrid process. The question paper should be sent to the servers installed in the examination centres. Printing should be done at the examination centres using high-speed printers. Kendriya-Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas should be made examination centres. The number of examination centres should be increased.