New Delhi, June 22(INB) More than 22 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination on Sunday, conducted under unprecedented security arrangements at 5,440 centres across 551 cities in India and 14 international locations.
The examination, held from 2 pm to 5:15 pm, was monitored through AI-enabled surveillance systems, biometric verification, CCTV coverage, signal jammers, frisking teams, dog squads and extensive police deployment to ensure a fair and transparent process.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) strengthened security measures following the cancellation of the earlier exam, carrying out mock drills, centre inspections and strict entry checks nationwide. Candidates were instructed to carry only the June 21 admit card, follow prescribed dress code guidelines and report before the 1:30 pm gate-closing time.
Ahead of the re-examination, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged students to remain calm and trust the examination system, assuring them that all necessary safeguards had been put in place.
The re-test comes amid heightened concerns over student well-being after reports of several NEET aspirant deaths in recent weeks, drawing attention to the pressure associated with the highly competitive medical entrance examination.
Meanwhile, an examination centre allotment controversy involving a Nagpur-based candidate assigned a centre in Abu Dhabi sparked debate on social media. The NTA denied any technical glitch, stating that application records showed the examination city preference had been viewed and modified during the application process. The agency subsequently facilitated a change of centre and maintained that no system error had occurred.
The NTA is expected to provide further updates on the conduct of the examination and subsequent evaluation process.
