A nationwide mock drill is under way across the country on Saturday ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination as part of the efforts to ensure smooth, secure and transparent conduct of the medical entrance test.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting a nationwide mock drill as part of preparations for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, which will be held tomorrow. The exercise, which began at 9 am, will continue through the day. More than 2.5 lakh security personnel are participating in the drill being carried out across examination centres nationwide.
In Delhi, a mock drill was conducted at examination centres in the Delhi Cantt area and Ashok Vihar Phase II. This exercise is being conducted to ensure the smooth, secure and transparent conduct of the examination.The NTA said that the exam will be conducted across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad for over 22.79 lakh candidates. The agency noted that a multi-layered security framework has been implemented to ensure a fair and transparent examination.
It includes CCTV surveillance, Aadhaar-based biometric verification and GPS-enabled vehicles with police escort for the movement of examination materials. The re-examination will be conducted from 2 pm to 5:15 pm in pen-and-paper mode.The re-examination will be held from 2 to 5.15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. Candidates with disabilities (PwD/PwBD) eligible for compensatory time will be allowed to write the examination till 6.20 pm.
Candidates have been asked to report to their examination centres between 11 am and 1.30 pm. “Entry gates will close sharp at 1.30 pm, and no candidate will be permitted entry thereafter under any circumstance,” the agency said. Medical colleges asked not to grant leave to students during NEET-UG re-exam period
The NTA said it is fully prepared for the re-examination with district administrations, police forces and escort teams tasked with securely transporting confidential materials.According to the NTA, the re-exam involves close coordination among multiple agencies and levels of administration, with 674 city coordinators overseeing city-level operations and 6,669 observers deployed for independent oversight at examination centres. Centre superintendents and invigilators have been appointed at every examination centre.
In a first, the Indian Air Force is being engaged to transport the question papers as part of enhanced security measures. Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has chaired a series of high-level review meetings with senior officials to assess preparedness and oversee arrangements for the re-examination.The government also temporarily restricted access to the Telegram, with the NTA saying the measure was aimed at tackling cheating rackets.
The NTA has launched a verified WhatsApp communication channel to provide authentic updates directly to candidates and has cautioned students against trusting social media rumours about “leaked” question papers, answer keys or paid services.Several States have also announced support measures for candidates, including free transportation facilities through state-run bus services to reduce travel-related stress and ensure timely access to examination centres.
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