Parliamentary panel proposes two-stage NEET UG exam format

A parliamentary committee in India has recommended restructuring the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) into a two-stage examination process. The Parliamentary Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports suggested moving away from the current single-stage model to a system consisting of a common preliminary screening test followed by specialized mains examinations tailored to specific disciplines such as MBBS, BDS, nursing, and AYUSH.

The panel noted that this change would reduce unnecessary competition by ranking candidates for different medical tracks independently. To address security concerns and prevent paper leaks, the committee proposed the creation of expansive, regularly updated question repositories. They also recommended involving experts from institutions like IITs, AIIMS, and IIMs in the development and translation of questions.

Furthermore, the committee urged the Union Education Department to establish a formal statutory framework to ensure the National Testing Agency (NTA) remains directly accountable to Parliament, emphasizing that public trust in national examinations is essential for social justice and national integrity.