UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — CBT mode for NEET under consideration, Centre informs SC

Q1. As placed before the Supreme Court in 2026, where does the authority to take the final decision on migrating NEET-UG to computer-based testing lie?

  • A. With the Union Education Ministry, contingent on the expert task force's report and the concurrence of the Health Ministry
  • B. With the National Testing Agency alone, which is empowered to fix the mode of every examination that it conducts
  • C. With the Supreme Court, which has directed a compulsory switch to CBT from the very next examination cycle onwards
  • D. With the National Medical Commission alone, as the exclusive statutory regulator of all medical education in the country

Q2. The proposed shift of NEET-UG to computer-based testing is to be carried out in consultation with which one of the following, in addition to the Ministry of Education?

  • A. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with the National Medical Commission
  • B. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, along with the Union Public Service Commission
  • C. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
  • D. The Ministry of Science and Technology, along with the Department of Science and Technology's assessment wing

Q3. With reference to the two-stage computer-based testing model being examined for NEET-UG and the existing JEE examination architecture, consider the following statements: 1. JEE (Main) serves as the qualifying examination for JEE (Advanced). 2. JEE (Advanced) is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology on a rotational basis. 3. Under the two-stage model being weighed for NEET-UG, both stages would be conducted by the National Medical Commission in place of the National Testing Agency. 4. The high-level expert committee recommended the transition of NEET (UG) from pen-and-paper to CBT mode along with multi-session and multi-stage testing. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. JEE (Main) serves as the qualifying examination for JEE (Advanced).
  2. JEE (Advanced) is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology on a rotational basis.
  3. Under the two-stage model being weighed for NEET-UG, both stages would be conducted by the National Medical Commission in place of the National Testing Agency.
  4. The high-level expert committee recommended the transition of NEET (UG) from pen-and-paper to CBT mode along with multi-session and multi-stage testing.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q4. In a national entrance examination held in multiple sessions, the exercise of 'normalisation' of scores refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Equating scores obtained in different sessions through psychometric and standardisation techniques, the best equated score being used for admission
  • B. Awarding compensatory marks to candidates who lost examination time at particular centres owing to distribution or logistical lapses
  • C. Scaling raw marks each year so that a fixed proportion of candidates in every category clears the prescribed qualifying threshold
  • D. Recomputing marks of all candidates after an ambiguous question is deleted from the paper on the recommendation of subject experts

Q5. The high-powered task force on examination reforms chaired by Nandan Nilekani, announced in July 2026, consists of how many members in all?

  • A. Four
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Nine

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the 2026 task force on examination reforms with the earlier High Level Committee of Experts on the National Testing Agency: 1. The earlier committee was constituted by the Ministry of Education, whereas the 2026 task force was announced by the Prime Minister. 2. The earlier committee submitted its report in October 2024 and had itself favoured a transition of NEET-UG to computer-based testing. 3. Both bodies have been headed by former Chairmen of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The earlier committee was constituted by the Ministry of Education, whereas the 2026 task force was announced by the Prime Minister.
  2. The earlier committee submitted its report in October 2024 and had itself favoured a transition of NEET-UG to computer-based testing.
  3. Both bodies have been headed by former Chairmen of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. NEET-UG is conducted by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. The National Testing Agency, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education
  • B. The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board, an autonomous board under the National Medical Commission
  • C. The Medical Counselling Committee, under the Directorate General of Health Services
  • D. The Central Board of Secondary Education, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding the National Testing Agency and NEET-UG: 1. The National Testing Agency was set up in 2017 as an autonomous, self-sustained organisation under the Ministry of Education. 2. The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 provides for a uniform national entrance examination and common counselling for admission to undergraduate medical courses. 3. JEE (Main) and the Common University Entrance Test are among the examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency. 4. NEET-UG has been conducted by the National Testing Agency since 2013, when the Agency took it over from the Central Board of Secondary Education. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The National Testing Agency was set up in 2017 as an autonomous, self-sustained organisation under the Ministry of Education.
  2. The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 provides for a uniform national entrance examination and common counselling for admission to undergraduate medical courses.
  3. JEE (Main) and the Common University Entrance Test are among the examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency.
  4. NEET-UG has been conducted by the National Testing Agency since 2013, when the Agency took it over from the Central Board of Secondary Education.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q9. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was piloted in Parliament by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. The Ministry of Education, through its Department of Higher Education
  • B. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
  • C. The Ministry of Home Affairs, through its Centre-State Division
  • D. The Ministry of Law and Justice, through its Legislative Department

Q10. The NEET-UG examination held on 5 May 2024, whose conduct was challenged before the Supreme Court, was administered at approximately how many examination centres?

  • A. About 3,800
  • B. About 4,750
  • C. About 5,440
  • D. About 6,700

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the National Medical Commission and the body it replaced: 1. The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 repealed the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and dissolved the Medical Council of India. 2. The Commission functions as an overarching body coordinating four autonomous boards, including separate boards for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. 3. All questions relating to the conduct and mode of the national entrance examination for medical courses are settled exclusively by the Commission, without reference to any other authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 repealed the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and dissolved the Medical Council of India.
  2. The Commission functions as an overarching body coordinating four autonomous boards, including separate boards for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.
  3. All questions relating to the conduct and mode of the national entrance examination for medical courses are settled exclusively by the Commission, without reference to any other authority.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Consider the following statements regarding the handling of NEET-UG disputes by the Supreme Court in 2024 and in 2026: 1. In 2026 the plea for CBT-mode NEET-UG was tagged with pending petitions on examination reforms for a joint hearing rather than being decided separately. 2. The Centre's position in 2026 is that a shift to computer-based testing requires the concurrence of the Health Ministry and the National Medical Commission besides the Education Ministry's own decision. 3. In 2024 the Supreme Court had found a systemic leak of the question paper and had accordingly ordered a fresh examination for all candidates. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In 2026 the plea for CBT-mode NEET-UG was tagged with pending petitions on examination reforms for a joint hearing rather than being decided separately.
  2. The Centre's position in 2026 is that a shift to computer-based testing requires the concurrence of the Health Ministry and the National Medical Commission besides the Education Ministry's own decision.
  3. In 2024 the Supreme Court had found a systemic leak of the question paper and had accordingly ordered a fresh examination for all candidates.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3