NTA conducts Nationwide Mock Drill for NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam with over 2.5 lakh security personnel

NEET UG 2026 re-examination is scheduled for 21 June, and ahead of the re-test, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting a nationwide mock drill. The mock drill began at 9 AM and will continue until late at night.

All examination centres have been handed over to NTA. The centres are operating under a three-tier security system to prevent any irregularities.

The reports say, more than 5,000 centres across the country are being monitored through CCTV surveillance.

The re-exam information was officially announced by NTA and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 15 May through an official public notice.

Exam timing strictly defined

The exam time is scheduled from 2 PM to 5:15 PM. The entry gates will be open from 11 AM and will be closed at 1:30 PM. No one will be allowed after that. The exam duration is said to be 3 hours and 15 minutes (195 minutes).

The NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on 3 May was cancelled due to a paper leak, and to ensure that the re-exam is completely secure, the government has now deployed over 2 lakh personnel, including the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), to secure the entire examination.

Temporary platform restriction

Telegram is temporarily banned in India for 7 days, that is, from 16 June to 22 June. This decision was taken to prevent planned cheating and paper leaks. The Delhi High Court upheld this decision, calling it a reasonable measure.

Student mental health crisis

According to media reports, around 12 students attempted suicide due to the paper leak and re-exam of NEET UG 2026. The victims included 22-year-old Pradeep Meghwal (Sikar, Rajasthan), 21-year-old Rithik Mishra (Lakhimpur Kheri, UP), 20-year-old Anshika Pandey (Azadpur, Delhi), and 17-year-old Suhani Yadav (Lucknow, UP), alongside other students from Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. Many of these students were repeat candidates whose families had taken significant financial loans for coaching, and the overwhelming distress of the academic uncertainty led to their suicides between May 12 and June 21.

Political protest reported

Cockroach Janta Party, founded by Abhishek Dipke, also held protests at Jantar Mantar and other places against Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and paper leaks.

The NEET UG 2026 re-examination, scheduled for June 21 following a paper leak, highlights a critical effort by the NTA to restore credibility through intense security measures, including military deployment and a Telegram ban. However, the crisis is underscored by widespread protests and tragic student suicides, emphasizing the need for systemic reform over mere surveillance.