Attempt Limit in NEET UG: NTA Gears Up for Major Changes! Age and Attempt Limit Rules May Be Implemented in NEET UG Exam

Attempt Limit in NEET UG: For the NEET UG examination, a minimum age of 17 years is prescribed for students; however, there is currently no upper age limit, and students are free to attempt the exam any number of times.

Attempt Limit in NEET UG: Following the ongoing controversies surrounding NEET UG 2026—including the cancellation of the exam—the National Testing Agency (NTA) has now begun preparations to implement significant changes. In the near future, age limits and restrictions on the number of attempts may be introduced for this medical entrance examination. This implies that students may soon be allowed to attempt the NEET UG exam only up to a specific age and for a limited number of times.

On Thursday, the Central Government informed a parliamentary committee that major reforms would be introduced in the examination system based on the recommendations of an expert committee chaired by former ISRO Chief Dr. K. Radhakrishnan. During its presentation before the Parliamentary Standing Committee—chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh—the NTA outlined a roadmap for several long-term reforms.

Attempt Limit May Be Implemented in NEET for the First Time

Currently, the NEET UG examination stipulates only a minimum age limit of 17 years for students; there is no upper age limit, and students are permitted to attempt the exam as many times as they wish. However, the NTA is now preparing to modify this existing framework. The agency informed the parliamentary committee that, in the future, the maximum number of attempts allowed for candidates may be capped. Additionally, the implementation of an upper age limit is also under active consideration. It has not yet been explicitly clarified how many attempts students will be allotted or what the specific upper age limit will be.

Focus on Computer-Based and Multi-Session Examinations

The NTA informed the committee that, in the near future, the NEET UG examination may be conducted entirely in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Furthermore, work is also underway to introduce a multi-session and multi-stage examination system. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has already announced that preparations may be initiated to conduct NEET UG in CBT mode starting next year. Currently, the NTA possesses the capacity to conduct computer-based examinations for approximately 1.5 lakh students in a single shift; the agency has set a target to increase this capacity to 10 lakh students by next year.

Reforms Intensified Following Paper Leak Controversy

A major controversy erupted this time regarding the NEET UG 2026 examination. More than 2.2 million students appeared for the exam held on May 3. Subsequently, allegations surfaced that approximately 120 questions from a viral “guess paper” matched those in the actual examination. According to the NTA, the agency received information regarding the alleged irregularities on May 7; following this, the matter was referred to central agencies on May 8, and the examination was cancelled on May 12. The re-examination is now scheduled to be held on June 21; however, during a parliamentary committee meeting, the NTA explicitly refused to characterize the incident as a “paper leak.” The agency maintained that while irregularities and malpractices were indeed observed within the examination process, it would be inaccurate to label the incident strictly as a paper leak. During the meeting, BJP MPs also raised objections regarding the use of the term “paper leak.” Conversely, opposition MPs questioned why the examination had to be cancelled if, in fact, no paper leak had occurred.