NEET re-exam: Govt passes litmus test

Examination at 5,440 centres in 551 cities across India passes peacefully

Hundreds of thousands of medical aspirants took the NEET (UG) re-examination on Sunday after the original May 3 test was cancelled over paper leaks. The re-test drew public attention and protests. The Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) also treated it as a test and pulled out all the stops to ensure the NEET-UG re-examination was held without a hitch, and they passed the ‘litmus test’ on Sunday.

According to officials, the examination was held at 5,440 centres in 551 cities across India and 14 centres internationally, with more than 138,000 CCTV cameras monitoring 95,000 rooms. To enhance security against electronic malpractice, authorities deployed 51,311 signal jammers.

Earlier, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed the arrangements for the re-examination at the National Testing Agency (NTA) headquarters in Okhla, Delhi.

“NTA apprises the Minister of the logistical and technical arrangements put in place for the efficient and transparent conduct of the examination,” the Ministry of Education said.

The examination, administered in English and 12 Indian languages, was scheduled from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm. Candidates with disabilities (PwD/PwBD) who were eligible for compensatory time were permitted to write the examination until 6:20 pm.

In Madhya Pradesh, a candidate told that, after the re-examination, the paper was good and the arrangements this time were much better, particularly the identity-checking system. The aspirant added that while it felt unusual to take the exam again, the retest also brought confidence and hope, as it offered another chance at selection.

Another candidate said the paper was very lengthy and tougher than expected, and that the second attempt did not go as well as the first.

An aspirant in Bengaluru said only Physics was difficult, while other sections were easy. We got more time to read and solve problems. The candidate added that the extra time to read and solve problems helped improve performance.

Their families reported difficulties commuting to the examination centres. Authorities in several cities implemented measures to mitigate these challenges.

In Bhopal, two students were denied entry to the centre after arriving late. Amir Qadri, uncle of one of the aspirants, said, “I have come here with my nephew for his examination. While on our way to the examination centre, we were involved in an accident and were a bit late because my nephew needed first aid. Now that we have reached here, we are being denied entry. The authorities are saying the exam has already begun and that it won’t be possible to permit us entry.”

In the same city, an injured candidate was granted a separate room at the examination centre, along with medical support and a standby ambulance after requesting special arrangements.

The candidate, Shrishti Dubey, suffered severe injuries in a road accident on June 14 and sought assistance from the authorities for special arrangements.

Pradhan also spoke to the aspirant’s parents, who conveyed their gratitude for the assistance provided by the NTA and the authorities.

In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking organised special bus services for students attending the re-examination, despite an ongoing employee strike.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation reported that approximately 180 bus trips were scheduled throughout the day, with 60 buses operating on 24 routes to facilitate travel to 63 examination centres across the city.

Officials also reported that in some States, including the national capital, free drinking water and refreshments were provided for parents and guardians waiting outside examination centres.

A candidate, Kishan, said before entering the examination centre in Delhi that security arrangements were tighter this time than during the earlier test.

Another NEET-UG candidate, Sonia, also said security was tighter this time. She added that such arrangements earlier could have reduced the chances of a paper leak and spared students trouble before taking the retest. Wearing a burqa and a dupatta, she alleged that she was denied entry to an examination centre in Rajasthan’s Ajmer. The candidate, Kulsum Bano, claimed she had appeared for the earlier exam wearing the same attire.

“I have come from Beawar to take the NEET exam. The candidate said she had come from Beawar to take the NEET exam and had worn the same attire during the May 3 test. She said officials first asked her to remove the dupatta and then the burqa. If I am to take the exam and they don’t allow me in this attire, then I won’t take it,” she had said. The NTA later clarified that the aspirant was allowed entry to the centre.

In Ahmedabad, a brief commotion was reported outside an exam centre after some parents objected to students being asked to remove ‘kanthi’ (Hindu sacred threads) during frisking, while girls wearing hijab were allowed inside, police said. The issue was later resolved after police explained the NTA dress code guidelines to the parents and members of the groups gathered outside the centre.

The issue was later resolved after police explained the NTA dress code guidelines to the parents and members of the groups gathered outside the centre.