NEET UG 5th among world's largest exams, Gaokao tops list with 1.29 crore
An SBI Research report compares India's high-stakes exams with major tests such as China's Gaokao and Brazil's ENEM. It says India can use global lessons on security, staffing, redressal and accountability to strengthen the NTA.
by India Today Education Desk · India TodayIn Short
- China's Gaokao drew about 1.29 crore candidates across 7,981 centres in 2026
- The exam used 3.48 lakh rooms and 21,000 reserve rooms
- More than 14,000 disabled candidates received accommodations during the Gaokao
India's National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) is among the world's largest examinations, with around 25 lakh students taking the exam, according to a State Bank of India Research report.
Based on candidate volumes, NEET UG would rank fifth globally. China's Gaokao tops the list with 1.29 crore candidates, followed by Brazil's ENEM with 48 lakh, China's Guokao civil-service exam with 37 lakh, and China's national master's entrance exam with 34 lakh.
Turkiye's YKS has around 24 lakh candidates, Nigeria's UTME around 22 lakh, and the US/international SAT around 20 lakh.
| Examination | Country | Approximate candidates | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaokao | China | 1.29 crore | Higher-education selection |
| ENEM | Brazil | 48 lakh | School assessment and higher-education access |
| Guokao | China | 37 lakh | Civil-service recruitment |
| YKS | Turkiye | 24 lakh | Higher-education selection |
| UTME | Nigeria | 22 lakh | Higher-education admission |
| SAT | US/international | 20 lakh | Higher-education admissions |
| SSC/ equivalent | Bangladesh | 18 lakh | School examination |
| ACT | US | 14 lakh | Higher-education admissions |
| HSC/equivalent | Bangladesh | 12 lakh | School examination |
| NEET-UG | India | 25 lakh | Medical education admission |
| JEE Main | India | 10 lakh | Engineering education admission |
| UPSC CSE | India | 12 lakh | Civil services recruitment |
| UPSC NET | India | 8 lakh | Eligibility for higher education/academic careers |
The new SBI Research report, titled The State of Higher Education in India since 2014: A decade of proliferation with empowerment of women & marginalised sections, compares major exams and suggests lessons for India.
GAOKAO: CHINA'S HIGHER EDUCATION EXAM
In 2026, 12.90 million candidates registered for Gaokao. It was conducted across 7,981 centres with 3.48 lakh examination rooms and 21,000 reserve rooms. More than 14,000 candidates with disabilities received accommodations.
The report highlights its security arrangements, including secure printing facilities, 24-hour surveillance, armoured and GPS-tracked vehicles for transporting question papers, police escorts, and monitored, steel-reinforced storage. Candidates undergo identity and prohibited-item checks, while centres are under video surveillance. Departments also coordinate for traffic, noise control, food, health and weather contingencies.
The report does not present Gaokao as failure-proof, but notes lessons in accountable custody of material, pre-planned remedies, transparent marking, redress mechanisms and evidence-based evaluation.
WHAT INDIA CAN LEARN FROM THESE EXAMS
The comparison comes as India grapples with conducting large-scale exams securely and transparently.
The report notes the National Testing Agency (NTA) remains a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. By July 2024, it had conducted more than 240 exams involving over 5.4 crore candidates.
Of 194 disclosed personnel, 171 were contractual or outsourced, accounting for around 88 per cent.
Against this backdrop, SBI Research recommends giving NTA a stronger statutory framework through an NTA Act of Parliament. It proposes an expert board, a permanent professional team, independent review mechanisms, a candidate charter and greater public accountability.
- Ends