NEET UG 2025 to be held in pen and paper mode in a single day, single shift: NTA

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that NEET UG 2025 will be conducted in offline mode, using pen and paper (OMR-based), on a single day and in a single shift. The National Medical Commission made this decision to hold the medical entrance examination in an offline format.

The decision was finalized on Thursday, January 16, following extensive discussions between the education and health ministries on whether to conduct NEET-UG in offline or online mode. An official notice regarding this decision has been published on the NTA’s website, nta.ac.in.

According to the notice, “As decided by the National Medical Commission (NMC), it is informed that the NEET UG 2025 shall be conducted in Pen and paper mode (OMR-based) in a Single day and Single Shift.”

Discussions about transitioning NEET to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format have occurred multiple times in the past. However, the move to reform the exam format gained momentum after last year’s paper leak controversy. Since 2019, the NTA has been responsible for conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) on behalf of the National Medical Commission. This examination is the gateway for undergraduate medical admissions across all medical institutions in India.

Also Read : Why the Government Declined to Conduct NEET UG 2025 Online Despite Paper Leak Concerns

For the MBBS course, approximately 1,08,000 seats are available, with about 56,000 in government institutions and 52,000 in private colleges. Additionally, NEET scores are used for admissions into undergraduate programs in Dentistry, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. 

In 2024, over 24 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET UG examination, which took place in May, with results declared in July. Candidates can visit the official NEET UG website for further information.