More than 20 lakh candidates appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) re-examination at 5,440 centres across India and 14 centres abroad on Sunday (June 21, 2026), the National Testing Agency (NTA) said.
While the NTA has not stated the exact number of students who appeared for the re-exam, it is likely that a lesser number of students took the re-exam than the 22.05 lakh candidates who had appeared for the NEET-UG examination in May, which was later cancelled following a paper leak.
The re-examination was held in 13 languages, including Hindi and English. While the retest remained NCERT-focused, students found the paper more demanding than the cancelled May test due to a lengthier, more calculation-heavy Physics section. Many students said Physics was the hardest section, while Chemistry was moderately challenging. Biology questions were largely NCERT-based, they added.
In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to wait at the airport after arriving from Kolkata instead of immediately leaving for his residence to ensure candidates did not face inconvenience due to traffic restrictions.
The NTA stated that extensive arrangements were made for all candidates, including more than 10,000 persons with disabilities. Special arrangements were put in place for around 81 candidates with medical conditions, among them a student undergoing chemotherapy.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed arrangements for the smooth conduct of the re-examination at the NTA headquarters in Delhi’s Okhla. The NTA apprised Mr. Pradhan of the logistical and technical arrangements put in place for the efficient and transparent conduct of the examination.
In Kolkata, a candidate injured in an accident was allowed a separate room at the examination centre, along with medical support and a standby ambulance. The candidate, Shrishti Dubey, had suffered severe injuries in a road accident on June 14 and sought assistance from the authorities for special arrangements.
The examination was scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Candidates with disabilities eligible for compensatory time were allowed to write the examination till 6:20 p.m.
Aadhaar-based biometric and face authentication, CCTV monitoring, jammers, and two-layer frisking with the support of the State police forces were in place across centres. Command and control centres for CCTV monitoring were established at the national level, at the NTA and at the Ministry of Education, and at 34 Centrally funded institutions of the Department of Higher Education in every State and at District Collectorates.
The NTA also drew the support of the Central Armed Police Forces, the Department of Posts, the Department of Financial Services, the National Informatics Centre, and the Indian Air Force. The Ministries involved were External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Electronics and IT, Defence, and Education, and banking partners SBI, Canara Bank, PNB and UCO Bank, alongside State governments and many other stakeholders.
An official removes a hair clip from a NEET candidate at an examination centre in Kochi on June 21, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Thulasi Kakkat
Several State governments made arrangements for students and parents, such as shade, water and food at centres, ambulances and medical facilities on standby, and in many States, free transportation for candidates on exam day.
Around 7 lakh officials, including police teams, observers and examination staff, were mobilised across India to conduct this examination.
The re-examination introduced a set of academic, financial, and psychological hurdles for those who chose to take the test again. Some aspirants and their families flagged commuting difficulties in reaching the examination centres.
Last-minute centre-specific rule changes and security checks led to confusion, with some students denied entry due to minor timing delays.
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 met with an accident and got a bit late, since my nephew received first aid. Now that we have reached here, we are being denied entry. The authorities are saying the exam has already begun, and it won’t be possible to permit us to enter.”
Meanwhile, nearly 79,400 aspirants appeared for the re-examination at 211 centres across Gujarat, which was held amid extensive security arrangements. The State police deployed drones and additional personnel at the centres to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the examination.
According to a media report, a NEET aspirant wearing a burqa alleged that she was denied entry into 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. When I took the exam on May 3, I was in the same attire then as I am now, wearing a burqa and a dupatta. Initially, they said I would have to remove the dupatta to enter; then they insisted I had to remove the burqa as well,” she said.
The NTA later clarified that the aspirant was allowed entry into the centre.
According to NTA, more than 95,000 examination rooms were equipped with CCTV surveillance. A total of 1,38,560 CCTV cameras were installed, with feeds monitored virtually at the National, State and Ministry levels, officials said. To secure the examination against electronic malpractice, 51,311 jammers had been deployed.
(With agency inputs)
Published – June 21, 2026 01:37 pm IST
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