The National Testing Agency (NTA) has completed preparations for the NEET-UG 2026 re-test scheduled for June 21, with more than 22.79 lakh candidates expected to appear at over 5,500 examination centres across India and overseas.

The pen-and-paper examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses will be conducted from 2 pm to 5.15 pm in 551 cities across India and 14 international locations. Candidates in the PwD-PwBD category eligible for compensatory time will be allowed to write until 6.20 pm.

More Than Two Lakh Personnel Deployed

To ensure the smooth conduct of the examination, the NTA has deployed more than two lakh personnel, including 674 city coordinators, 6,669 independent observers, centre superintendents, invigilators, district administration officials and police personnel.

The agency said a multi-layered security mechanism has been put in place to safeguard the integrity of the examination.

Enhanced Security Measures in Place

Question papers and examination materials will be transported in GPS-enabled vehicles under police escort.

All examination centres will be monitored through CCTV cameras linked to centralised control rooms.

Candidates will undergo mandatory frisking with high-sensitivity metal detectors and Aadhaar-based biometric verification to prevent impersonation and malpractice.

The NTA said it has intensified monitoring of social media platforms and has lodged complaints with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the CBI to counter misinformation and fraudulent activities linked to the examination.

The agency clarified that candidates will not be denied entry in case biometric authentication fails because of technical glitches, poor fingerprint quality or connectivity problems.

In such cases, candidates will be required to submit a written undertaking and their identity will be verified manually using valid documents.

Centres Directed to Make Arrangements for Summer Conditions

Keeping in view the prevailing summer conditions, the NTA has instructed all centres to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply through generators and backup systems to keep fans and lights operational during the afternoon shift.

Examination centres have also been directed to provide drinking water, sanitation facilities, wall clocks and medical support.

General category candidates will be permitted to carry transparent water bottles.

Diabetic candidates will additionally be allowed to carry sugar tablets and fruits such as bananas, apples and oranges.

Reporting Time and Entry Guidelines

Candidates have been asked to report to their centres between 11 am and 1.30 pm.

Entry gates will close strictly at 1.30 pm and no candidate will be permitted to enter after that time.

Candidates wearing customary or religious attire, full-sleeved clothing or woollen garments have been advised to reach their centres early to allow sufficient time for security checks.

Candidates must carry a printed admit card, one original photo identity card and two passport-sized photographs.

The agency also advised candidates to verify the exact location of their centres from their admit cards, warning that digital map applications may occasionally show incorrect locations.

Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, wallets, jewellery, metallic accessories, food packets and other electronic gadgets will not be allowed inside examination centres.

NTA Advises Candidates to Ignore Rumours

The agency urged students and parents not to pay attention to rumours relating to question paper leaks or alleged irregularities and to rely only on official information available on the NTA’s NEET website.

For students facing stress or anxiety related to the examination, the NTA highlighted the availability of the government’s round-the-clock Tele-MANAS mental health helpline, which can be accessed through 14416.

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