NEET-UG Re-exam to be Held Today Amid Tight Security Across 5,440 Centers Nationwide

New Delhi. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has completed preparations for the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21. The NTA had cancelled the NEET-UG exam, originally held on May 3, on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak. The agency stated that unprecedented security and surveillance measures have been implemented nationwide to ensure the exam is transparent and fair. The NTA has also urged candidates and parents to rely only on official notifications and to beware of misleading claims—such as alleged paper leaks—circulating on social media.

The NEET-UG re-examination will be conducted at 5,440 centers across 551 cities in India and at 14 centers abroad. The exam will be held in 12 Indian languages, including English. More than 22 lakh candidates from across the country are expected to appear for the exam. According to the NTA, the exam will be conducted in over 95,000 rooms, all of which have been equipped with CCTV cameras. Surveillance will be maintained via a total of 138,560 CCTV cameras, with live feeds monitored at the national, state, and ministry levels.

To prevent cheating via electronic means, 51,311 jammers have been deployed. Of these, 17,054 jammers were provided by ECIL and 34,257 by BEL. Security arrangements have been further strengthened to ensure proper candidate identification. Across the country, 38,795 frisking personnel and 48,448 biometric verification personnel have been deployed. The number of personnel for biometric verification has been doubled, and a face authentication system has also been introduced to ensure the verification process remains swift and transparent.

*Two invigilators in every exam room*
Two invigilators will be present in every examination room. Additionally, more than 10 extra examination personnel have been deployed at each center. A Center Systems Officer (CSO) has been appointed at each of the 5,440 centers to oversee CCTV surveillance and promptly resolve technical issues. The NTA has deployed approximately 6,700 observers across the examination centers. Apart from these, over 100 virtual observers will monitor live CCTV feeds at the central level. The agency stated that CCTV footage will also be analyzed using AI-based technology to instantly identify any suspicious activity or irregularities.

*An average of 40 to 50 security personnel per center*
Responsibilities for the smooth conduct of the examination have been assigned to state governments, district administrations, the police, paramilitary forces, the Indian Air Force, and the Department of Posts. On average, 40 to 50 security personnel have been deployed at each examination center. Special duties have been assigned to bank officials at approximately 1,500 bank branches holding confidential exam materials, while the Department of Posts will handle the collection of OMR sheets from around 700 collection centers nationwide. The NTA reported that a nationwide mock drill was conducted on Saturday to test jammers, CCTV systems, biometric setups, and frisking procedures.

All center coordinators confirmed the availability of examination materials stored in custodian banks. Facilities such as drinking water, ORS, ambulances, and waiting areas for parents have been provided at the centers for the convenience of candidates. Arrangements such as wall clocks, extra sheets for rough work, and special provisions for left-handed students have also been made in the examination rooms. The duration of the exam has been extended to account for the additional time required for the entry process.