The seven-member committee headed by former ISRO chief Dr K Radhakrishnan, which was formed by the government after the nationwide uproar over the NEET paper leak, made several key recommendations, including holding entrance exams online and using a hybrid model where is necessary.

In the hybrid model, question papers would be submitted digitally, but answers on paper.

The committee also suggests conducting multi-stage examinations for medical aspirants, streamlining subject selection in the Central University Entrance Test (CUET) and equipping the National Testing Agency (ANT) with more permanent staff to effectively manage these changes.

The committee was tasked with suggesting reforms to strengthen data security protocols, improve the review process and review the NTA’s structure and operations.

The panel recently presented its report to the Ministry of Education, Indian Express reported.

right IE The report, the committee’s recommendations are not limited to NEET reforms but also include long-term measures to ensure all entrance tests are conducted by the Centre.

The panel reportedly argued for greater government control over exam administration.

This includes expanding the number of government-run exam centers and reducing reliance on outsourced service providers. In addition, the commission recommends increasing the number of permanent staff within the ANT, which currently relies heavily on contract workers.

Examinations under the NTA are currently conducted in government-run schools and colleges. When additional seats are required, AICTE approved institutes and colleges are enlisted.

If this is still not enough, service providers – agencies that help conduct exams online – bring in other private centers as well.

The committee reportedly recommended against using private centers.

Additionally, while predominantly supporting online admissions tests, the committee suggests using a hybrid model where online testing is not feasible.

Under the proposed hybrid model, exam questions would be digitally sent to the exam center and candidates would mark their answers on OMR sheets.

This move will significantly reduce the number of hands the question sheet passes through.

This recommendation is crucial, especially considering the circumstances of the NEET-UG paper leak incident, which allegedly took place when the question paper, after reaching an examination center in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, was illegally accessed and it would have been handed over to the people who solved it.

Digital transmission of question papers enables the governing body to issue them even before the examination begins, thus enhancing security by avoiding the need for printing, storing in secure locations and physically distributing papers to centres.

For CUET, the committee recommends limiting the choice of subjects for candidates.

Currently, the NTA, which runs CUET on behalf of the University Grants Commission, offers more than 50 subjects, allowing candidates to sit tests in up to six of them.

The Radhakrishnan panel is said to have questioned the logic behind so many tests.

“Why should a science student, who has already appeared for the Board exams, take another test in the same subjects? The subjects’ role should primarily be to determine eligibility, while CUET should assess general aptitude and some subject knowledge to prepare a merit list for college admission. Why should students sit up to six papers if they have already completed their board exams?” a source was quote as he said IE.

Furthermore, having so many topics means creating multiple sets of question papers, which in turn increases the number of people involved – a factor “we should ideally minimize to maintain security and privacy” , the source added.

It is also reported that the Radhakrishnan group has recommended conducting NEET-UG in two stages, similar to the Common Entrance Examination system, due to the large number of applicants – around 20 lakh this year.

The panel also proposed capping the number of attempts for NEET-UG as currently candidates can take the exam as many times as they want.

Apart from Radhakrishnan, the committee comprises notable personalities such as former AIIMS director Randeep Guleria, Central University of Hyderabad vice-chancellor BJ Rao, IIT Madras professor emeritus Ramamurthy K, Karmayogi Bharat board member Pankaj Bansal, IIT Delhi professor Aditya Mittal and the joint unit of the Ministry of Education. Secretary Govind Jaiswal.

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