After allegations that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET‑UG) paper had been leaked, Indian authorities scrapped the original exam and scheduled a second sitting under unprecedented security measures.
Students arriving at 5,440 exam centres were checked with biometric scanners, scanned by metal detectors, and screened by 39,000 frisking staff—an effort meant to leave no chance for cheating. A total of 1.3 million security cameras were installed across more than 95,000 exam rooms, with 51,311 jammers deployed to block cell‑phone signals.
In a move that highlighted the severity of the situation, the Indian Air Force transported new paper copies to some regions and police and paramilitary officers were posted at each centre. Drones and dog squads were also used to monitor surroundings, and strict dress codes—such as banning enclosed shoes and removing piercings—were enforced.
The exam, lasting three hours and fifteen minutes and comprising 180 physics, chemistry and biology questions, was understood to be a crucial gateway for about 2.28 million students seeking a coveted medical college slot. The sudden cancellation of the first sitting in May had caused widespread outcry, with students demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Despite his reassurances to “sit fearlessly”, many still expressed fear that the leak phenomenon could recur.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation, following earlier instances of alleged leak and fraud in 2024 and a Grade 12 exam this year. Telegram was temporarily banned, citing potential misuse for cheating, further illustrating the extent of the security overhaul.
While the heightened precautions aim to preserve exam integrity, they also underscore a longstanding challenge: India’s competition–driven student culture and organised‑crime networks that profit from exam fraud. The outcomes of this second NEET‑UG sitting will set a new precedent for handling academic integrity in the country.
