NEW DELHI: Administrative and security arrangements have been stepped up across the country to ensure the smooth, secure, and fair conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, scheduled for Sunday.Also Read | Nagpur NEET aspirant gets Abu Dhabi as exam centreThe re-test is being conducted after the cancellation of the high-stakes medical entrance test held on May 3 due to a question paper leak. More than 22 lakh candidates had appeared for the original examination.To prevent any recurrence of paper leaks, the question papers will be transported by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The move, however, has drawn criticism, with critics arguing that it reflects lapses in the government’s examination security framework.Also Read | NEET UG 2026 re-exam: NTA issues detailed exam-day advisory, check details hereThe Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the paper leak. So far, 13 individuals have been arrested in connection with the case for their suspected involvement in leaking the question paper.Meanwhile, according to reports, at least 10 students have died by suicide since the cancellation of NEET.Here’s all you need to know:
- The National Testing Agency (NTA), under fire for its failure to prevent the leak, is conducting a nationwide mock drill on the eve of the re-examination to ensure its smooth conduct.
- On Friday, the Delhi high court upheld the Centre’s temporary ban on Telegram, rejecting the messaging app’s challenge to the restriction, which was imposed to prevent paper leaks and the spread of exam-related rumours.
- Inspection rounds are underway to finalise arrangements at various centres in the national capital, where five schools have been designated as centres.
- In Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, where around 23,000 aspirants will appear for the examination across 47 centres, adequate police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to assist in the smooth conduct of the re-test.
- In Ajmer, Rajasthan, around 300 police personnel will be deployed across examination centres to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the examination.
- Authorities in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun have imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to maintain law and order for a peaceful and orderly conduct of the exercise.
- The NTA has advised candidates to reach their examination centres between 11 am and 1:30 pm, noting that entry gates will close at 1:30 pm.
- The examination will be conducted in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 5:15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.