More than 2.2 million medical aspirants appeared for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on Sunday across India and abroad, conducted under strict security arrangements following the cancellation of the earlier exam over an alleged question paper leak.
The examination, held by the National Testing Agency (NTA), was organised after nationwide controversy surrounding the May 3 test paper leak case.
Entry Window Closed After Strict Verification Process
Candidates began arriving at centres from 11 a.m., where authorities carried out intensive frisking, document checks and identity verification.
As per NTA instructions, students were required to carry their admit cards, valid photo ID proofs, and passport-sized photographs. Entry to examination centres was allowed only between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., after which gates were closed.
The exam was conducted from 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., with an additional 15 minutes provided this year.
Massive Security Deployment Across India and Abroad
The re-exam was held at 5,440 centres across 551 cities in India and 14 international centres, with papers available in English and 12 regional languages.
Officials said over 95,000 examination rooms were monitored through CCTV surveillance, while 1,38,560 cameras were installed nationwide. Live feeds were tracked at national, state, and ministry levels.
To prevent electronic malpractice, 51,311 signal jammers were deployed across centres.
Candidates Say Security Much Stricter This Time
Many candidates reported that security measures were significantly tighter compared to previous years.
A student appearing in Delhi told PTI, “A lot has happened over the past month. I revised as much as I could, and now I just want to write the exam. I only hope the exam is conducted fairly.”
Paper Reported to Be Tough and Lengthy
After the examination, several candidates described the question paper as more difficult than the earlier May 3 exam.
Students said Physics was particularly tough, Chemistry was difficult, and Biology was lengthy. Many also noted that the overall paper was time-consuming compared to previous attempts.
Speaking to ANI, one candidate said, “The paper was tough overall. Physics was lengthy and slightly tougher than last time, while Biology was good and Chemistry was moderate.”
Some students also claimed that a few questions appeared to be repeated from the earlier examination.
Background: Re-Exam Ordered After Paper Leak Probe
The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination was conducted after the earlier test was cancelled amid allegations of a question paper leak, triggering protests and demands for a fresh evaluation process.
Authorities said the large-scale security measures were introduced to ensure transparency and restore confidence in the examination system following the controversy.
