Why NEET UG cannot be held twice a year

The idea of conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) twice a year, similar to JEE Main, has found support among many students who believe multiple attempts would reduce pressure and improve their chances of securing a medical seat.However, introducing a biannual NEET would require far more than scheduling another examination. Jitendra Ahuja, Physics Faculty at Vidyamandir Classes, points to the logistical, administrative and academic challenges, while education counsellor Jayaprakash Gandhi believes the exam can be held twice a year provided robust security and infrastructure are put in place.SCALE OF THE EXAM POSES A MAJOR CHALLENGENEET UG is India's largest medical entrance examination with over 22 lakh registrations every year. Conducting the exam, according to Jitendra Ahuja, requires thousands of examination centres, invigilators, security personnel and a robust technological infrastructure.Holding the exam twice annually would effectively double these operational requirements, making execution significantly more complex. SECURITY CONCERNS, COUNSELLING, OTHER CHALLENGESAhuja says examination integrity remains one of the biggest hurdles. Given the allegations of paper leaks, impersonation and other irregularities surrounding NEET in recent years, conducting two editions annually would substantially increase the operational burden."It would require preparing two question papers of comparable difficulty, protecting both from leaks and ensuring a uniform evaluation process," he says. Gandhi agrees that security is the key prerequisite for a biannual NEET. He says the exam can be conducted twice a year only if authorities establish a foolproof system with secure examination centres, strong digital firewalls and safeguards against cyber threats.Unlike engineering admissions, where students have multiple examination opportunities and varied admission processes, medical admissions are conducted through a centralised counselling system based on a single merit list.Ahuja further says: "Introducing two NEET sessions would require authorities to decide whether admissions should consider the best score, the latest score or separate counselling rounds. Any changes to the counselling framework could also delay admissions and disrupt the academic calendar," arguing that conducting NEET twice a year would not solve the larger issue of limited MBBS seats.While some students may improve their scores with an additional attempt, the number of available seats would remain unchanged, meaning the intense competition for admissions would continue. Medical colleges operate on a tightly regulated academic calendar with extensive clinical training requirements.According to Ahuja, delays in counselling or multiple admission rounds resulting from two NEET sessions could postpone the start of classes, reduce teaching time and affect clinical exposure for students.Ahuja says organising NEET twice a year would significantly increase expenditure on examination infrastructure, manpower, transportation of confidential materials, technology deployment and security arrangements.These additional costs would ultimately have to be borne either by the government or through increased examination-related expenditure.WILL TWO ATTEMPTS ACTUALLY REDUCE STRESS?While the proposal is often seen as a way to reduce exam pressure, Ahuja believes it could have the opposite effect."Students may feel compelled to prepare throughout the year and appear in both sessions to maximise their scores. Coaching institutes would also need to redesign their academic calendars around two examination cycles, extending the preparation period instead of shortening it," he added.Gandhi questions why NEET is conducted around 40–45 days after the Class 12 board examinations when JEE Main is held both before and immediately after the board exams."If students can appear for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics before and after the boards, why can't Biology students have a similar opportunity?" he asks.He also alleges that the current schedule benefits the coaching ecosystem by creating an extended preparation window after board examinations, arguing that students should not have to wait several weeks for the medical entrance test.Despite highlighting the challenges, Ahuja does not rule out the possibility of conducting NEET twice a year in the future. He says it could become feasible with stronger examination systems, better digital infrastructure, streamlined counselling processes and an expansion of medical seats.If the government decides to introduce two NEET sessions, Ahuja suggests they should be scheduled close together – one before the board examinations and another soon after – similar to the JEE Main model. Holding the two exams several months apart, he argues, would force students to remain in preparation mode for an extended period, defeating the objective of reducing stress.For now, however, both experts agree that any move towards a biannual NEET must first be backed by robust examination security and a well-prepared administrative framework. While Gandhi believes the transition is achievable with the right safeguards, Ahuja maintains that the current challenges outweigh the potential benefits.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 12:49 IST