NEET-UG retest concludes smoothly for over 20 lakh candidates after May 3 paper leak
The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Ministry of Education successfully concluded the NEET-UG retest on Sunday, with over 20 lakh candidates appearing at 5,440 centres across India and 14 abroad. The examination, conducted under tight security, passed without any reported breach or major disruption, providing relief to the agency and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who faced criticism following the cancellation of the May 3 exam due to a paper leak.
The retest was organised in just 37 days, significantly shorter than the typical four to six months required for such an exercise. A larger security and logistics framework was deployed, involving security and intelligence agencies, the Indian Air Force for transporting question papers, and ministries of railways, home affairs, defence, health, and information technology. The NTA described the retest as 'a fair chance, a fresh start' for candidates.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan monitored the conduct of the test from the NTA headquarters in Delhi's Okhla until it ended. He reviewed feeds from command-and-control centres and contacted exam centres directly. The government had also restricted access to the Telegram app until June 22 over concerns it could be used for cheating.
Students reported that the biology section was easy to moderate, while physics was calculation-heavy and chemistry was lengthy and difficult. Some candidates complained about power outages and disturbances during the exam, despite NTA's directives to minimise interruptions. However, overall, the retest was seen as well-prepared, with centres better organised than in the previous attempt.
The May 3 exam was cancelled after allegations that over 120 questions overlapped with material circulated before the test. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe was initiated, and several individuals, including members of the paper-setting panel, were arrested. For the retest, the question bank was expanded, and paper-setters worked under 'lockdown-like' conditions with strict restrictions on electronic devices.
The smooth conduct of the retest has restored some confidence in the examination process, though the credibility crisis stirred by the leak continues to be a concern for authorities.
