India’s NEET‑UG Exam Under Tight Security After Alleged Paper Leak

Mon Jun 22 2026 11:11:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Millions of medical students face unprecedented security as India retests its flagship exam following a leaked paper scandal.

India’s all‑India medical entrance test, NEET‑UG, was cancelled last month after allegations the exam paper had been leaked. To prevent a repeat, authorities deployed Air Force transport, 1.3 million cameras and over 40,000 security officers across 5,440 sites, while banning phones, social media and enforcing strict dress codes. Students sat long lines of biometric checks, metal detectors and frisking, with some even asked to remove jewelry. Despite the rigorous precautions, many candidates remain anxious about further breaches, while student protests continue. The investigation has been handed to the CBI amid fears of organised crime influencing exam outcomes.

India’s NEET‑UG Exam Under Tight Security After Alleged Paper Leak

Millions of hopeful medical students across India had to endure a second attempt at the landmark admission test, after authorities cancelled the May exam over rumours that the questions had been leaked.

On Sunday morning, the exam centres were surrounded by biometric identification checks, metal detectors, CCTV and squads of security personnel, including Air Force pilots who shipped new test papers to 55 regions. Police and paramilitary troops were posted at every one of the 5,440 exam sites, while more than 1.3 million cameras were installed to monitor the rooms.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) said 51,311 jammers were used to block mobile signals, and the Telegram app was temporarily banned until Monday, a move aimed at curbing cheating‑related communications. Students were told to ignore “rumour” messages, which had been spread on social media to spread panic.

Students who had originally sat the 3‑hour, 15‑minute test on 3 May—featuring 180 questions across physics, chemistry and biology—now faced a compressed one‑month preparation window. “This time the authorities know about the leak and are retrying the exam, which is better because those who worked hard should get fair results, but re‑studying in a month is exhausting,” explained one student.

Despite the reinforced security, a significant fraction of candidates remain worried that another leak could happen. The CBI has been ordered to investigate the allegations, and the scandal echoes previous 2024 disruptions that raised concerns about fraud and uneven grading.

Protesters, including the All India Students Federation, gathered at towns like Bangalore, holding placards and chanting slogans to demand accountability and ensure future examinations are conducted fairly. The bombarding of the exam with such eye‑sore security measures underscores the high stakes of NEET‑UG, the single gateway for admission into India’s medical colleges.