NEET, CUET Twice a Year? MoE Draft Proposes JEE Main-Like Exam Model

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is considering a proposal to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) and Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET UG) twice a year, following the two-session model currently used for JEE Main. The proposal is part of a draft on competitive and entrance examinations that was reported in September 2026. Recent reports said the draft recommends giving students more than one opportunity to appear for major entrance examinations in a year. However, the proposed change has not been notified as a final examination rule. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has not announced a new two-session NEET UG or CUET UG schedule. Students should therefore continue to rely on official NTA notifications until any reform is formally approved and implemented.

MoE Proposes NEET and CUET Twice a Year

According to reports on the draft proposal, the Ministry of Education is considering conducting NEET UG and CUET UG at least twice a year. NEET UG is the national entrance examination used for undergraduate medical admissions, while CUET UG is used for admission to undergraduate programmes at participating universities. JEE Main, the national engineering entrance examination, already has a two-session structure. The proposal could give NEET and CUET candidates an additional opportunity within the same academic cycle. The exact schedule, eligibility rules, attempt conditions and score-calculation method have not been officially announced.

What Does the Draft Proposal Say?

The reported recommendations include several changes to the way students prepare for and appear in national competitive examinations.

Key proposals include:

1. Conducting NEET UG twice a year.
2. Conducting CUET UG twice a year.
3. Moving towards a multiple-session model similar to JEE Main.
4. Reviewing the difficulty level of competitive-examination question papers.
5. Providing specialised training to school teachers for competitive-examination preparation.
6. Considering curriculum differences among school boards while designing examination papers.
7. Strengthening preparation for competitive examinations at the school level.

The broader objective reported for the reforms is to reduce pressure associated with a single high-stakes examination and strengthen school-level preparation.

JEE Main Already Follows a Two-Session Pattern

JEE Main provides a relevant reference point for the proposed change. For JEE Main 2026, NTA conducted separate examination sessions in January and April. Its official notices described Session 1 and Session 2 as separate examination windows. The reported MoE proposal would extend a similar multiple-session approach to NEET UG and CUET UG. However, the proposed NEET and CUET schedule should not be assumed to be identical to JEE Main until the government and NTA issue formal details.

Why Is the Two-Session Model Being Considered?

A twice-yearly examination could give candidates another opportunity if they are unable to perform as expected in the first session. The draft is also reported to address concerns surrounding the preparation gap between school education and competitive examinations. Differences in the curricula followed by various school boards have been identified as another issue for consideration. The proposal reportedly recommends reviewing examination-paper difficulty and taking different school-board curricula into account rather than relying only on one curriculum framework.

Teacher Training and School-Level Preparation

The reported reforms extend beyond examination frequency. The draft recommends specialised training for school teachers so that students can receive stronger preparation within the school system. This is linked to the broader objective of reducing excessive dependence on private coaching for competitive examinations. The proposal also reportedly focuses on making competitive examinations more closely aligned with the learning backgrounds of students from different education boards.

Is NEET Twice a Year Confirmed?

No. The reported proposal should not be treated as a confirmed NEET examination schedule. As of September 30, 2026, the available NTA notices do not establish a new twice-yearly NEET UG schedule. NTA's official 2026 material records the NEET UG examination conducted on May 3, 2026, along with a re-examination held on June 21 for the affected candidates. Similarly, NTA conducted CUET UG 2026 during May, with subsequent arrangements for candidates affected by examination rescheduling. Any future change in the number of NEET or CUET sessions would require an official notification specifying the applicable year, dates, registration process and examination rules.

What Should Students Do Now?

Students preparing for NEET or CUET should not change their preparation strategy solely because of the reported proposal.

Until an official notification is issued, candidates should:

1. Follow the latest notices published by NTA.
2. Continue preparing according to the applicable syllabus and examination requirements.
3. Avoid relying on social-media posts or unverified claims about two attempts.
4. Check the official NEET and CUET portals for application and examination updates.
5. Wait for an official notification before assuming that a second examination session will be available.
6. For reference, NTA's official website currently carries notices and updates for NEET UG and CUET UG examinations.

What Happens Next?

The reported recommendations remain subject to government consideration and further implementation decisions. If the proposal is approved, the authorities would need to communicate several operational details, including the examination calendar, application windows, eligibility rules, attempt structure, fee requirements and how scores would be used for admissions. Until those details are officially announced, students should treat the twice-yearly NEET and CUET plan as a proposal rather than a confirmed examination rule.