Two-stage NEET, permanent testing body among proposals to overhaul India’s exam system

A two-stage format for NEET-UG, creation of a permanent national examination body and greater use of technology are among a series of proposals put forward by a parliamentary panel seeking sweeping reforms in the way high-stakes examinations are conducted in India. The recommendations are part of a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, which examined challenges facing the country’s examination system amid concerns over paper leaks, irregularities, security and the enormous scale at which national entrance tests are conducted.

Two-stage NEET proposed

One of the key recommendations is to explore restructuring the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate medical admissions into two stages — a preliminary examination followed by an advanced examination. Under the proposed model, the preliminary stage could be used to screen candidates, with those qualifying then appearing for the advanced examination that would determine admission to medical colleges.

The committee argued that such a system could make the examination more manageable and reduce the logistical burden associated with conducting a single high-stakes test for more than two million candidates simultaneously. The panel also suggested studying examination models used for other competitive tests before taking a final decision on the structure.

Permanent body suggested

The committee has proposed establishing a permanent and professionally managed examination organisation with specialised expertise in conducting large-scale national tests. It stressed the need for an institutional structure equipped with permanent technical, administrative and security capabilities rather than depending excessively on outsourced personnel and temporary arrangements.

The recommendations include developing dedicated examination infrastructure and strengthening institutional capacity to manage question-paper preparation, transportation, examination centres, evaluation and result processing. The panel also called for clearer accountability at every stage so responsibility can be fixed when security or administrative failures occur.

Technology to secure exams

Greater deployment of technology has been recommended to protect the integrity of examinations. The panel suggested strengthening digital surveillance, candidate authentication and mechanisms for tracking sensitive examination material.

It also advocated reducing human intervention in processes where technology can provide more secure alternatives. At the same time, the committee stressed that technological changes should take into account differences in digital infrastructure across the country and ensure that candidates from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds are not placed at a disadvantage.

Reducing outside dependence

Another area of concern highlighted by the panel is dependence on external agencies for crucial examination functions. The recommendations favour building greater in-house capacity within examination authorities and ensuring that sensitive responsibilities are not handed over indiscriminately to private entities lacking adequate experience, infrastructure or accountability.

The panel has also sought stronger standards for selecting examination centres, tighter security protocols and systematic audits of the entire examination process. The proposals come as the government continues efforts to strengthen the National Testing Agency and restore confidence in national entrance examinations following controversies over alleged leaks and irregularities in recent years. If accepted, the recommendations could lead to one of the most substantial restructurings of India’s national examination architecture, particularly for NEET-UG, which remains among the country’s largest and most competitive entrance examinations.