The National Testing Agency (NTA) is working to expand and strengthen its examination-centre network with support from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
As part of this exercise, AICTE has asked government technical universities and approved government higher education institutions to submit verified details about their existing digital and physical infrastructure by September 15, 2026.
The information being collected includes the availability of computers, internet connectivity, CCTV surveillance and suitable examination space.
The initiative is primarily an infrastructure-mapping exercise aimed at identifying government institutions that may be capable of hosting secure computer-based examinations in the future. Students should not interpret the survey as confirmation that any particular NTA examination has already changed its testing mode.
Institutions have been asked to provide accurate and updated information about their available infrastructure.
| Infrastructure Area | Details Relevant for Assessment |
|---|---|
| Computer systems | Number of computers, configuration and operational readiness |
| Internet and network | Connectivity, reliability and backup arrangements |
| CCTV surveillance | Availability and coverage of examination areas |
| Physical space | Computer labs, rooms and other spaces that may be used for examinations |
| Verification | Accuracy and official certification of submitted information |
The information should reflect the actual infrastructure available at each campus or institution, rather than estimated or theoretical capacity.
Institutions may need to provide details about the total number of functional computer systems available for examination use.
Important factors can include:
Simply having a large number of computers may not be sufficient if the systems are outdated, unreliable or unavailable during examination periods.
Computer-based examinations require reliable connectivity and stable internal networks.
Institutions may therefore need to provide information about:
A disruption in internet or network services during a high-stakes examination can affect a large number of candidates, making backup systems particularly important.
Secure examinations also require effective monitoring.
Institutions may be asked to report the availability and coverage of CCTV cameras across areas such as:
The testing authority may eventually assess whether the surveillance infrastructure satisfies the security standards required for national examinations.
AICTE is also seeking information on physical areas that may be suitable for examination delivery.
These could include:
Any institution finally selected as an examination centre would still need to satisfy additional requirements relating to security, accessibility, candidate movement and operational readiness.
National-level entrance and eligibility examinations can involve lakhs of candidates across hundreds of cities.
Managing these examinations requires a large network of secure, technically capable centres.
Expanding the use of verified public institutions may help NTA create a more dependable examination-centre network.
Government institutions may provide benefits such as:
However, every institution would still need to satisfy the standards prescribed for the particular examination.
One of the potential objectives of infrastructure mapping is to improve consistency across examination centres.
A verified centre network could help testing authorities assess factors such as:
This can become particularly important for large-scale computer-based examinations.
A broader network of suitable government institutions could also help identify examination facilities in areas where candidates currently have limited options.
If more qualified centres become available in smaller cities or districts, some candidates may eventually benefit from reduced travel distances.
However, the infrastructure survey itself does not guarantee that every institution submitting details will become an NTA examination centre.
A computer lab alone is not enough to conduct a high-stakes national examination.
A suitable examination centre may require a combination of technology, security and operational readiness.
Computer-based examinations depend heavily on uninterrupted power.
Centres may therefore require:
The computers used for examinations must be technically reliable and appropriately secured.
Authorities may consider factors such as:
A secure examination centre also requires trained personnel.
These may include:
Proper training helps ensure that standard procedures are followed consistently.
Large examination centres must be capable of handling significant candidate movement.
This may require:
Accessibility for candidates with disabilities may also form an important part of centre assessment.
There is no immediate action required from candidates because the current exercise concerns institutions and examination infrastructure.
Students should continue preparing according to the official examination pattern already notified for their respective tests.
The collection of computer-lab and digital infrastructure data does not automatically mean that a particular examination will shift to computer-based testing.
Any official change in examination mode would need to be communicated separately through:
Students should therefore avoid making preparation decisions based on speculation.
Candidates preparing for exams conducted by NTA should follow the officially prescribed:
Until an official notification is released, the existing rules for the relevant examination should be treated as applicable.
The infrastructure exercise may naturally lead to speculation about major examinations such as NEET UG.
However, the survey alone should not be treated as confirmation of a change in NEET UG examination mode.
If NTA or the government decides to change the examination mode for NEET UG or any other major entrance test, candidates would need to be informed officially.
Such a change would typically require clear information regarding:
Until such an announcement is issued, students should continue preparing for the officially notified format.
Government technical universities and eligible higher education institutions participating in the infrastructure survey should ensure that the submitted information is accurate and verified.
Institutions should designate an authorised official who can coordinate:
This can help avoid inconsistent or incomplete reporting.
Before submitting information, institutions should inspect their available facilities.
The audit should cover areas such as:
Institutions should avoid reporting equipment that is:
Accurate reporting is important because the information may later be used to assess the institution's suitability for conducting examinations.
Institutions should also identify limitations relating to:
Technical capacity alone may not be sufficient for centre approval.
After completing the internal assessment, institutions should obtain the necessary approvals and submit the verified details through the channel specified by AICTE.
The reported deadline for submission is September 15, 2026.
Submission of infrastructure details is only an initial step.
Institutions identified as potentially suitable may still need to undergo further evaluation before being used as examination centres.
Future assessment may include:
The final selection of examination centres would remain subject to the requirements established by the relevant testing authority.
Government technical universities and eligible higher education institutions have reportedly been asked to submit verified infrastructure details by September 15, 2026.
The exercise is intended to identify secure and technically capable institutions that may support the delivery of large-scale national examinations, particularly computer-based tests.
No. The infrastructure survey alone does not confirm a change in the NEET UG examination mode. Candidates should wait for an official notification from NTA or the relevant authority.
AICTE works with approved technical universities and institutions that may already have computer laboratories, internet infrastructure and other facilities suitable for computer-based examinations.
No. Submission of infrastructure information does not automatically mean an institution will be selected. Further technical, security and operational assessments may be required.
No immediate action is required from candidates. Students should continue preparing according to the officially notified examination pattern and monitor official NTA notices for any future changes.
Potentially, a wider network of approved examination centres could improve geographical coverage and reduce travel for some candidates. However, actual centre allocation will depend on future examination planning and official decisions.
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) – Circulars and Bulletins:
https://aicte-india.org/bulletins/circulars