NEET 2026 re-exam concludes amid tight security; over 22 lakh students appear across 5,440 centres
New Delhi, June 21: More than 22 lakh medical aspirants appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination on Sunday,…
Photo courtesy: ANI
New Delhi, June 21: More than 22 lakh medical aspirants appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination on Sunday, marking a crucial test not only for students but also for the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre following the controversy over a paper leak in May.
The earlier examination, held on May 3, was cancelled after reports of a question paper leak triggered nationwide outrage, student protests and demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Centre acknowledged concerns over the incident and said it chose to prioritise transparency by cancelling the affected examination and conducting a fresh test.
The re-exam was conducted from 2 pm to 5.15 pm. Candidates were instructed to report to their centres between 11 am and 1.30 pm with their admit cards, valid photo identification and two passport-size photographs.
Question Papers Airlifted as NTA Strengthens Preparations
To secure the examination process, question papers were airlifted by the Indian Air Force as part of enhanced measures to protect the chain of custody.
The NTA also conducted a nationwide mock drill on June 20 to verify security systems and logistical arrangements ahead of the examination.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level review meeting earlier this week and directed authorities to maintain strict vigilance and ensure that the examination met the highest standards of integrity, transparency and efficiency.
He also announced that Ministry of Education officers would be deployed across states to coordinate re-examination activities and report to a central command centre led by the NTA Director General.
1.38 Lakh CCTV Cameras and 51,000 Jammers Deployed
The NTA said it made comprehensive arrangements for the examination, which was conducted across 5,440 centres in 551 Indian cities and 14 centres overseas.
According to the agency, the examination was held in more than 95,000 rooms, each equipped with CCTV surveillance.
“A total of 1,38,560 CCTV cameras have been installed, with feeds monitored virtually at the National, State and Ministry levels. To secure the examination against electronic malpractice, 51,311 jammers have been deployed,” the NTA said in a statement.
The agency added that state and district administrations, police forces, paramilitary personnel, the Indian Air Force and the Department of Posts were mobilised to ensure smooth logistics and robust security.
On average, 40 to 50 security personnel were deployed at each examination centre. Bank officials were stationed at around 1,500 branches storing confidential examination materials, while postal teams coordinated the collection of OMR sheets from nearly 700 collection centres nationwide.
Mock Drill Conducted Ahead of Examination
The NTA said review meetings were held with Chief Secretaries and senior officials from all states, while district authorities confirmed examination centre arrangements.
“A nationwide mock drill was conducted on 20 June 2026 to verify all systems — jammers, CCTV, frisking staff and biometrics. Coordinators have verified the examination material held in the custodian banks and confirmed its availability for the examination,” the agency said.
The testing agency also warned that strict action would be taken against individuals spreading rumours or making false claims regarding paper leaks, urging students and parents to rely only on official sources of information.
Nagpur Candidate’s Abu Dhabi Centre Allocation Raises Questions
A day before the examination, concerns emerged after a candidate from Nagpur reportedly received an admit card assigning him an examination centre in Abu Dhabi.
Abdullah Mohammad Talib and his family stated that Nagpur, Wardha and Bhandara had been selected as preferred examination cities during the application process.
Following an inquiry, the NTA said the city change had been made through the candidate’s registered login and showed a “consistent single-user access pattern.” The agency later received a request to modify the centre and allotted one in Nagpur.
“The NTA’s priority is that no candidate misses the examination over an administrative doubt,” the agency said.
Political Reactions Continue Over NEET Controversy
Protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continued in Delhi, including demonstrations organised by the Cockroach Janta Party.
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also urged the government to ensure a smooth examination process and avoid any further issues.
In a video message posted on X, Gandhi wished candidates success and expressed support for students affected by the controversy.
“I hope you have a wonderful, excellent exam and you all do really, really well. Remember, we are with you, we want to look after you, protect you and make sure that you have a brilliant future,” Gandhi said.
Addressing the government, he added: “Please ensure that there are no glitches this time. The students have been through enough stress and they really cannot afford to go through it again.”
