Should the NEET-UG be decentralised?
Experts debate whether India's NEET-UG medical entrance exam should be decentralized to address ongoing issues with corruption and administrative lapses. While some argue for state-level exams to improve equity, others highlight the benefits of a single-window system for reducing student stress.
Why it matters
The debate over centralized versus decentralized testing impacts millions of students and the accessibility of medical education in India.
The cancellation and retest of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), 2026 has exposed deep cracks in India’s examination system. Allegations of paper leaks, corruption and repeated lapses by the National Testing Agency (NTA) has pushed lakhs of aspirants into uncertainty, stress and emotional exhaustion. This has led to many asking whether such a high-stakes, single day, single shift, national exam for admission to all medical courses in India should be decentralised. Dr. G.R. Ravindranath and Balaji Sampath discuss the question in a conversation moderated by Bindu Shajan Perappadan .
The article presents a balanced dialogue between two experts with differing viewpoints on educational policy.
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