NEET-UG 2026 Re-Test: Over 22.79 Lakh Aspirants Retake Exam After Alleged Paper Leak - Video

More than 22.79 lakh NEET-UG 2026 aspirants appeared for the nationwide re-examination on June 21, weeks after the original test was cancelled over an alleged paper leak. Candidates across 551 cities in India and 14 abroad underwent stringent airport-style security checks, including biometric verification, frisking, metal detector screening and CCTV surveillance, while police and paramilitary personnel guarded examination centres.

Many students described the retest as emotionally exhausting after weeks of uncertainty. One candidate said thousands had struggled mentally during the prolonged process, while another remarked that the paper was tougher than the original examination. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had assured candidates that the re-examination would be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, according to The Guardian report.

The controversy had triggered a nationwide investigation into the alleged paper leak and intensified concerns over the integrity of India's examination system. Ahead of the retest, the government had temporarily restricted access to Telegram over reports that leaked question papers were being circulated through the platform. The incident added to growing scrutiny of India's examination processes, with repeated paper leak controversies, evaluation disputes and technical issues fuelling public criticism and increasing demands for stronger safeguards to protect students and restore confidence in competitive entrance examinations.