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NEET-UG Re-exam: 22.79 Lakh Aspirants, IAF Transports Papers
NTA runs mock drill, deploys IAF for paper transport, and restricts Telegram ahead of Sunday's NEET-UG re-exam for 22.79 lakh candidates after a paper leak.
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The National Testing Agency runs a nationwide mock drill Saturday ahead of Sunday's NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. Security at the NTA office in New Delhi has been tightened.
More than 22.79 lakh medical aspirants will sit for the test from 2 to 5:15 PM across 551 Indian cities and 14 cities abroad. The original exam was cancelled after a paper leak triggered protests and legal challenges.
Candidates must report between 11 AM and 1:30 PM. "Entry gates will close sharp at 1:30 PM, and no candidate will be permitted entry thereafter under any circumstance," the NTA said.
The agency said it has deployed 674 city coordinators and 6,669 observers for independent oversight. Over 2 lakh police and district administration personnel have been mobilised.
In a first, the Indian Air Force is transporting question papers as part of enhanced security. The government temporarily restricted access to Telegram, with the NTA saying the measure targeted cheating rackets. The NTA launched a verified WhatsApp channel for authentic updates and warned candidates against social media rumours about leaked papers or paid answer keys.
The National Medical Commission directed all medical colleges not to grant leave to students on June 20 and 21, citing past instances of student involvement in activities that compromised exam integrity.
The NTA described a multi-layered security framework: end-to-end sealed protocols for confidential materials, GPS-enabled vehicles with police escorts, CCTV surveillance linked to centralised control rooms, and Aadhaar-based biometric authentication to prevent impersonation.
Candidates with disabilities eligible for compensatory time can write until 6:20 PM. The agency advised candidates wearing customary or religious attire, or full-sleeved clothing or woollens, to report early for thorough frisking.
Several states announced free bus transportation for candidates. The NTA said it has deployed additional biometric machines and trained personnel to speed up verification.