With less than a week left for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, the whistleblower who first exposed the paper leak has expressed confidence that the June 21 test will be secure. However, many students in Rajasthan’s Sikar, one of India’s biggest coaching hubs for medical aspirants, remain sceptical and say only the conduct of the examination will determine whether the new safeguards are effective.
Shashikant Suthar, a chemistry teacher at Gurukripa Coaching Institute in Sikar, was among the first to alert authorities about the alleged paper leak following the May 3 examination. He approached local police and later informed the National Testing Agency (NTA), leading to a wider investigation that uncovered an alleged multi-state paper leak network.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Speaking to India Today Digital, Suthar said the chances of another leak were now extremely low due to the extensive measures introduced by the Centre and the Ministry of Education.
“The examination is unlikely to witness another paper leak. The government has implemented several strong safeguards that should have been in place earlier,” he said.
Isolation of paper-setters key to security
Following the cancellation of the May 3 examination, authorities announced unprecedented security arrangements for the June 21 re-test. These include isolating paper-setters, moderators and translators at undisclosed locations without access to phones, laptops or the internet.
Question papers will also be transported using Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters under multi-layered security. More than five lakh security personnel, biometric verification, facial recognition systems, AI-enabled surveillance and extensive CCTV monitoring will also be deployed.
Suthar described the isolation of paper-setters as a “game-changer” that could significantly weaken paper leak networks. He also welcomed the decision to shift NEET to a computer-based test format from 2027, saying it would reduce opportunities for malpractice.
Despite these assurances, many students in Sikar continue to feel anxious. Aspirants told India Today Digital that the previous leak had damaged their trust in the system.
Prashant, a student preparing for the re-exam, said he hoped there would be a level playing field but was not completely convinced another leak could be prevented. Another candidate, Prakash, said the measures announced by authorities had not fully restored confidence among students.
With thousands of aspirants preparing for the June 21 examination, students say the effectiveness of the new safeguards will only be known once the re-test is successfully conducted. Until then, many remain hopeful but cautious after the unprecedented disruption to one of India’s most important entrance examinations.
