Security heightened as Indian students retake medical exam amid paper‑leak allegations
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET‑UG), the gateway to India’s medical colleges, was cancelled for a month when the first paper was found to have been leaked. Nearly 2.3 million candidates had studied for years to sit this tough exam, but the leak left them devastated.
To keep the second attempt fair, exam centres are under tight security. Candidates undergo biometric identification, walk through metal detectors and are checked by armed patrols. 41 000 plus frisking staff will guard students to prevent contraband, while 5 440 exam sites are under surveillance.
In a move unprecedented in India, the Indian Air Force transported new test papers to several regions. 2.3 million cameras are installed in exam rooms, and 51 310 jammers block mobile signals. Telegram messages are also temporarily banned to curb cheating.
Students remain anxious. “We had to study for a month again,” says Diksha, a hopeful candidate. “This can be a chance for those who worked hard, but one month of preparation in the face of uncertainty is tough.”
The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the allegations, following earlier scandals in 2024 and the Grade 12 exam. Student groups protest, demanding that the exam be conducted fairly and that future leaks be prevented.
The NEET‑UG will run for 3 hours 15 minutes, covering 180 questions in physics, chemistry and biology. A high‑stakes test in a country where medical careers can bring decades of wealth and prestige—hopeful students are demanding proof of a clean and transparent process.
