NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday reviewed the preparations for the retake of the NEET-UG exam on June 21 and assured candidates that measures have been taken to ensure that the exam is conducted smoothly, safely and error-free.
Pradhan visited the National Testing Agency (NTA) headquarters in the capital and took stock of the arrangements for the re-test, which is being conducted after the original exam on May 3 was canceled after it was confirmed that the question paper was compromised.
“The entire process, from preparing question papers to subsequent stages and timely delivery of test materials to the centers, is being carried out with complete confidentiality. This time, we have taken greater precautions,” Pradhan said after the review meeting.
The Minister said that several high-level meetings were held under the leadership of the Cabinet Secretary and responsibilities were assigned to all departments involved in this process. He said the Center has also strengthened the NTA by appointing additional officials, including joint secretaries and directors, to oversee various aspects of the examination process.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the government will for the first time use Indian Air Force aircraft to transport question papers as part of the enhanced security plan, replacing the traditional road-based distribution system. This step aims to reduce transit time and enhance security.
Pradhan said the Center is closely coordinating with state governments and district administrations, keeping in mind local weather conditions. “The Director General of NTA is directly interacting with the district collectors, while the states have been asked to make additional arrangements wherever necessary,” he said.
“I want to reassure the students and their parents. Please focus on your studies. We will conduct the re-examination flawlessly and I ask for your cooperation,” the minister said, adding that the results will be announced without delay so that the students do not lose valuable study time.
“The Cabinet Minister, Home Minister and National Security Establishment are monitoring the situation. We are bringing together all cyber protection agencies, including those of the Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bank of Iraq,” Pradhan said.
He added: “The mistakes that occurred previously will not be repeated. We will conduct a re-examination properly.”
The minister said that the examination will be conducted at 5,435 centers in 551 cities in India and 14 centers abroad.
Regarding the ongoing investigation into the newspaper leak, Pradhan said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was examining the violations in detail and that the government had sought to take the strictest possible measures against those arrested. He said: “The Central Bank of Iraq is trying to get to the roots of the errors that occurred and where they occurred. I have complete confidence in the Central Bank of Iraq.”
He added: “We have asked the agency to take strict action against those found guilty. Their criminal responsibility must be determined, cases must be filed against them, and they must face speedy trials in speedy courts.”
The NTA canceled the NEET-UG 2026 exam on May 12, nine days after around 2.27 million candidates appeared for the exam. Investigators later found that questions arrived on some candidates’ phones as early as May 1, two days before the test. A new examination is scheduled for June 21.
Evaluation mission
