More than 20 lakh medical aspirants appeared for the NEET-UG retest on Sunday as authorities rolled out one of the most extensive security operations ever seen for a national entrance examination. The examination was conducted over a month after it was cancelled due to allegations of a question paper leak.
According to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the pen-and-paper examination was held at 5,440 centres across India and 14 overseas centres. More than seven lakh personnel, including examination staff, police officers and security officials, were deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the test.
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The agency said multiple sets of question papers were prepared by experts from academic institutions across the country to strengthen the examination process. The retest was organised through the coordinated efforts of several government departments and agencies, including the Indian Air Force, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of External Affairs.
To prevent malpractice, authorities implemented Aadhaar-based biometric verification, CCTV surveillance, signal jammers and mandatory frisking at centres. CCTV footage was monitored from control rooms established at the NTA headquarters, the Education Ministry, district collectorates and dozens of centrally funded institutions.
Special arrangements were also made for candidates facing medical challenges. The NTA said 81 students with health conditions received assistance, including separate examination rooms and medical support where required.
Ahead of the examination, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed confidence in the arrangements and appealed to all stakeholders to prioritise the interests of students. He urged people not to create unnecessary anxiety among candidates and emphasised the need to protect the future of the country’s youth.
The NTA described the retest as a coordinated national effort aimed at restoring confidence in the examination process following the controversy surrounding the earlier cancelled test.
