NEET CUET Twice a Year: Education Ministry Proposes Reform

| Updated On - Sep 30, 2026

The Education Ministry has proposed conducting NEET and CUET twice a year on the lines of JEE Main. A nine-member panel has recommended the reform to ease single-attempt pressure. The plan awaits government approval.

NEET CUET Twice a Year: Education Ministry Proposes Reform

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has proposed a major exam reform. It plans to conduct NEET and CUET twice a year. This would bring them on par with JEE Main.

The proposal is part of a draft submitted in September 2026. A nine-member panel of the MoE has prepared this draft. It reviews India's national entrance examination system.

Key Highlights of the Draft Proposal

NEET UG and CUET UG may be held twice a year.
The move would follow the current JEE Main pattern.
Candidates would get more than one attempt in the same cycle.
The panel has sought a review of question difficulty.
Teacher training for competitive exams has been recommended.
State board curriculum gaps must also be addressed.

Who Prepared the Draft Report?

The panel was set up by the MoE in June 2025. It was chaired by then Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi. The nine members included academic and testing experts.

The group was tasked with reviewing India's entrance exam framework. It held wide consultations before drafting the report. The final proposal was submitted to the ministry in September 2026.

Why Has the Reform Been Proposed?

The single-attempt format has faced scrutiny for many years. A missed exam forces a candidate to wait an entire year. The draft says a second attempt would ease this pressure.

Students who fall ill on exam day suffer badly. The draft also flags board-wise curriculum disparities. Uneven preparation across boards can put students at a disadvantage.

Proposed Reforms at a Glance

Reform Area	Proposal
Exam frequency	NEET and CUET twice a year
Reference model	JEE Main pattern
Question difficulty	Review across boards
Teacher training	Special modules for competitive exams
Curriculum gaps	Address board-wise disparities

Education Ministry Proposes NEET and CUET Twice a Year Like JEE Main — Source: x.com/indiacom

What Is the Current Status of the Proposal?

The recommendations are still at the draft stage. No formal notification has been issued by the MoE. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has also not confirmed any change.

Candidates should follow the existing NEET 2026 and CUET 2026 schedule. Any change will require government approval first. The NTA will then have to issue a fresh calendar.

Why This Matters

NEET is India's largest entrance test with over 20 lakh candidates yearly. A twice-a-year cycle would reshape how aspirants plan their academic year.