New Delhi [India], January 17 (HBTV): The National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to continue conducting the medical entrance exam NEET-UG in pen-and-paper mode for the time being.

'As decided by the National Medical Commission (NMC), the NEET-UG shall be conducted in pen-and-paper mode (OMR-based) in a single day and shift,' an NTA notice said on Thursday.

NTA also clarified that the exam will be conducted in a single day and a single shift.

'MNS (Military Nursing Service) aspirants seeking admission to B.Sc. Nursing Courses being conducted at Armed Forces Medical Service Hospitals for the year 2025 are required to qualify for NEET (UG). The NEET (UG) score will be used for shortlisting for selection to the four-year B.Sc. Nursing course,' the notice further reads.

Notably, the NTA conducts the NEET every year for admission into medical colleges.

More than 24 lakh students participated in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, which was held at 4,750 different centres located in 571 cities throughout the country on May 5, 2024.

The demand for switching to computer-based test (CBT) mode for NEET arose following the alleged paper leak controversy last year.

Following the alleged irregularities in NEET and PhD entrance NET, the Centre had in July set up a panel to ensure the transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations by NTA.

According to the high-level panel, headed by former ISRO Chief R. Radhakrishnan, it proposes multi-session and multi-stage testing, development of secure and accessible testing centres, mobile testing units for remote areas, and a robust grievance redressal mechanism.

While NEET was under scrutiny over several irregularities, including alleged leaks, the UGC-NET was also cancelled last year as the ministry received inputs that the integrity of the exam had been compromised. Both matters are being probed by the CBI.

(ANI)