NEET UG 2026 Answer Key Expected This Week for Over 22 Lakh Candidates
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the provisional answer key for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination later this week, according to official sources. Candidates who appeared for the test, which was conducted for over 22 lakh students, will be able to access the answer key on the official website neet.nta.nic.in by logging in with their application number and password.
The provisional answer key will allow students to verify their responses and raise objections if they believe an answer is incorrect. The NTA has opened a challenge window for this purpose. To challenge an answer, candidates must visit the website, log in, select the disputed questions, provide what they believe is the correct answer, upload supporting documents in PDF format, and pay a prescribed fee per challenge.
This year's NEET UG exam was conducted under extraordinary circumstances. After allegations of irregularities in the original test, the Supreme Court ordered a re-examination. The NTA completed the re-test in a record 37 days, mobilising nearly seven lakh personnel, including police, observers, invigilators, and examination staff. The test involved multiple sets of question papers prepared by academic experts from institutions across India.
The NTA highlighted the extensive security measures implemented for the re-test. These included Aadhaar-based biometric verification, face authentication, CCTV surveillance, signal jammers, and two-tier frisking supported by state police forces. Command and control centres for CCTV monitoring were established at multiple levels, including within the NTA, the Ministry of Education, 34 centrally funded institutions, state governments, and district collectorates.
The exam also drew support from several ministries and agencies, including the Central Armed Police Forces, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Posts, Indian Air Force, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Railways, National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Defence, and banking partners such as SBI, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, and UCO Bank.
Special arrangements were made for candidates requiring assistance, including more than 10,000 persons with disabilities (PwDs). Additional support was provided to around 81 candidates with medical conditions, including a student recovering from surgery.
The NTA described the re-test as a collective national endeavour, thanking all stakeholders for their cooperation. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website for updates on the answer key release and to follow the prescribed procedure for raising objections within the given timeframe.
