One of the most talked-about exams in the world is the NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test). Surprisingly, the exam is conducted offline despite this technical and internet era. There are some obvious reasons behind it, as many other similar exams are conducted online. 

Many aspirants and parents continuously ask why NEET is not online but do not get satisfying answers. So, here we are to discuss all the reasons why NEET is offline instead of online. 

For all the parents and students who want to get their answers, make sure to stay tuned here. Read the article, and you will find your answer. But before that, we should discuss some basics of NEET and its conduct procedure so that you can clearly understand why NEET is not online. 

NEET And its Conduction Procedure 

NEET means we are talking here about the National Eligibility Entrance Test for Undergraduate Programs. Meanwhile, NEET PG is a separate topic to talk about. 

It is an exam for students who want to enrol in government or private medical colleges. Every year, the exam is conducted and lakhs of 12th pass out and appearing students participate in this exam. 

All types of undergraduate medical seats in India are filled through this exam only; there is no other exam for this. The exam is conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency), which is one of the biggest testing agencies in India. However, as of now, the testing agency is going through allegations of the NEET 2024 scam. The matter is in the Supreme Court as of now. 

NTA has been conducting the NEET exam for the last 7 years. Before, the exam was conducted by CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), but after one paper leak, the government decided to give the NEET contract to NTA. 

Talking about its conduction procedure, the exam is conducted in offline, pen-paper, mode. All the aspirants take the NEET exam on the same day and simultaneously. The exam body decides on various exam centres in over 500 cities across India and foreign countries.

Why is NEET Offline, Not Online 

There are many such exams in India that are similar to NEET, but they are still conducted online and last for many days. The JEE exam is also conducted online, but it is conducted by JP NTA only, and the CUET exam is also conducted online, but it is conducted by NTA only.

And this is why students keep asking why NEET is not online. Not only do they ask, but they keep demanding to conduct the NEET exam online. Nonetheless, it’s a different topic. As of now, let’s look at the reasons why NEET is not online. 

1. Lack of Online Exam Centers/ Infrastructure

It’s only been a couple of years since India shifted towards online examinations. Unfortunately, we don’t have a developed infrastructure for online exams. For a certain number of students, the online exam can be conducted in one day, but the number of applications for NEET is much higher. 

In JEE Main, approximately 12 lac students participate. On the other hand, NTA gets 22 lac applications for NEET. For NEET 2024, 26 applications were received, which is more than double that of JEE. So, it is unfair to compare the exam mode with this aspect. To conduct NEET exam online, more online exam centres are required. That is why the lack of online exam centres is the first reason why NEET is not online. 

2. The Same Paper is a Must for All Aspirants 

Some of you must think, why not conduct the NEET exam in multiple batches on different days like JEE Main? You are thinking right, but NTA is bound to give the same paper to each medical aspirant nationwide. Unlike JEE Main, there can’t be different exam papers for NEET. 

Secondly, the NTA has to follow this rule, as it is issued by the government committee, NMC (National Medical Council). NMC has certain guidelines for conducting NEET, and one paper is one of these guidelines. Until or unless NMC allows NTA to make multiple papers, the NEET will be offline. 

3. Exam Time Should Be the Same For All 

Now, because the question paper for NEET must be the same for everyone, it is impossible to conduct the exam in two phases on the same day. If NTA thinks that we will take the exam of half of the children in two phases in a single day, then this will also not be possible because, due to the same paper, the children of the first shift can leak the paper. Not only this, but even exam invigilators can leak the paper.

Conclusively, as of today’s NMC guidelines for conducting NEET, it is not possible to conduct the NEET exam online. 

Toppers List NEET 2024

Is it Possible to Conduct NEET Online in Future?

Yes, it is possible, but the only condition is that NMC change the guidelines. If NMC changes the guidelines for the single paper for NEET, NEET can be conducted online with JEE and CUET. 

The second way to conduct NEET UG online is the evolution of the online exam infrastructure. If NTA can arrange 24 lakhs or more computers as exam centres, the NEET online is possible. 

Well, it doesn’t seem to happen in the near future because it is next to impossible to arrange so many computers at a time. It will take time, at least 5 years. So, after a couple of years, we can expect that NEET UG will be in online mode. 

A Few Last Words 

After talking about the reasons why NEET is offline, not online, we can say that NTA has nothing to do with this matter. The NMC (National Medical Council) is the one from whom we can expect the NEET exam to be conducted online. Otherwise, the NEET is going to be in offline mode only. 

Meanwhile, there is a chance that NMC will remove the NTA from conducting NEET in the future because of the recent allegations and irregularities in NEET 2024. However, the matter is in court; we all have to wait for the court decision and then the NMC orders related to the NEET conducting body.