The National Testing Agency has deployed electronic jammers and biometric verification at 5,454 examination centres for the NEET re-exam [1].
These measures aim to restore the integrity of the medical entrance process after a major controversy involving a paper leak. The original exam, held on May 3, 2026 [3], was scrapped on May 12, 2026 [4], after officials found a significant overlap between a pre-circulated guess paper and the actual questions [5].
Security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces officials, are managing the sites in the Chandigarh Tricity area and other Punjab locations [1, 2]. The NTA is using a combination of CCTV surveillance, face authentication, and biometric verification to ensure only eligible candidates enter the halls [1].
Strict access controls include thorough frisking of all individuals entering the premises [1, 3]. Electronic jammers have been installed to block unauthorized communication and prevent the use of mobile devices during the test [2, 3]. These protocols apply to more than 22 lakh aspirants [1].
The deployment comes as the agency attempts to address widespread concerns regarding fairness and transparency. Officials said the enhanced security is necessary to prevent irregularities that compromised the previous session [5].
Candidates are required to follow strict reporting times and guidelines to avoid delays in the verification process [1]. The agency said the use of face authentication is part of a broader effort to eliminate impersonation at the centres [1].
“The original exam, held on May 3, 2026, was scrapped on May 12, 2026.”
The scale of this security operation reflects the systemic pressure on India's National Testing Agency to eliminate cheating in high-stakes exams. By shifting toward biometric and electronic countermeasures, the NTA is attempting to move beyond traditional policing to a tech-driven verification model to regain public trust in the medical admissions process.
