The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday (July 16) declared the NEET UG 2026 results, hours after releasing the final answer key for the re-examination. A total of 11.21 lakh candidates qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and other allied courses across the country.&nbsp;Candidates who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate courses can check their results on the official NEET website at neet.nta.nic.in.&nbsp;The NEET UG re-examination was conducted on June 21, 2026, in a single shift from 2 pm to 5.15 pm after the May 3 examination for more than 20 lakh students was cancelled following the alleged paper leak. The examination was held in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and Urdu, across 5,440 examination centres in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.<h3>Aryan Gupta and Panshul Banshal emerge as top scorers</h3>Aryan Gupta of Punjab and Panshul Banshal of Haryana emerged as the joint toppers in the country's medical entrance examination, each scoring 715 out of 720 marks.&nbsp;According to the NTA, 19 candidates scored above 700 marks, while 138 secured more than 690 marks. A total of 1,492 candidates scored 650 or above, 10,160 candidates obtained 600 or more marks, and 90,780 candidates secured at least 500 marks.&nbsp;The NTA advised candidates to rely only on its official websites for counselling-related updates. It also cautioned students against fake admission offers and fraudulent communications seeking money or personal credentials.

The NTA declared the NEET UG 2026 results after conducting the June 21 re-examination following the cancellation of the May 3 test over the alleged paper leak, with 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying for undergraduate medical admissions.


The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday (July 16) declared the NEET UG 2026 results, hours after releasing the final answer key for the re-examination. A total of 11.21 lakh candidates qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and other allied courses across the country. Candidates who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate courses can check their results on the official NEET website at neet.nta.nic.in. The NEET UG re-examination was conducted on June 21, 2026, in a single shift from 2 pm to 5.15 pm after the May 3 examination for more than 20 lakh students was cancelled following the alleged paper leak. The examination was held in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and Urdu, across 5,440 examination centres in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. Aryan Gupta and Panshul Banshal emerge as top scorers Aryan Gupta of Punjab and Panshul Banshal of Haryana emerged as the joint toppers in the country's medical entrance examination, each scoring 715 out of 720 marks. According to the NTA, 19 candidates scored above 700 marks, while 138 secured more than 690 marks. A total of 1,492 candidates scored 650 or above, 10,160 candidates obtained 600 or more marks, and 90,780 candidates secured at least 500 marks. The NTA advised candidates to rely only on its official websites for counselling-related updates. It also cautioned students against fake admission offers and fraudulent communications seeking money or personal credentials.

The NTA declared the NEET UG 2026 results after conducting the June 21 re-examination following the cancellation of the May 3 test over the alleged paper leak, with 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying for undergraduate medical admissions.

NEET UG 2026 result declared, 11.21 lakh candidates qualify; check scorecards at neet.nta.nic.in

A 19-year-old medical aspirant who was due to appear for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on Sunday (Jun 21) was found dead at her home in Hyderabad's Miyapur area, a day before the test. The tragic death has once again drawn attention to the intense pressure surrounding one of India's most competitive entrance examinations. Police have identified the student as Sheikh Sana. According to investigators, she was found hanging in her room on Saturday (Jun 20) afternoon.<h2>Suicide note found at scene</h2>A note recovered from the scene stated that no one should be held responsible for Sana's death. "No one is responsible for my death. I am taking my life," the note reportedly read. Sana had spent the past year preparing for NEET and was scheduled to take the re-examination on Sunday after the original May 3 test was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/neet-re-exam-fresh-scam-surfaces-despite-telegram-ban-rajasthan-youth-arrested-for-selling-fake-papers-1781937484501">NEET re-exam: Rajasthan youth arrested for selling fake papers on Telegram; fresh scam surfaces despite app ban</a>According to police, Sana lived in an apartment with her two younger sisters while their parents worked in Kuwait. The children were looked after by their aunt, who lives nearby. Investigators said the three sisters had breakfast together on Saturday morning before Sana went into her room to study. Hours later, when her siblings called her for lunch, she did not respond.The police were informed of her death later in the evening. They have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to her death.<h2>Another NEET dream cut short</h2>Officials said Sana had scored above 90 per cent in her intermediate examinations and had been focused on securing a medical seat. While the investigation is ongoing, police believe academic stress may have played a role."She has been preparing for NEET for a year. We think the academic pressure caused significant mental distress," a police official said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/neet-aspirant-gets-uae-abu-dhabi-centre-instead-of-nagpur-nta-blames-technical-glitch-after-online-outrage-assigns-new-exam-centre-neet-ug-re-exam-1781941644447">Bizarre&nbsp;NEET admit card error: Aspirant gets Abu Dhabi centre instead of Nagpur, NTA blames 'technical glitch' after online outrage</a>The tragedy adds to a series of student suicides reported from different parts of the country in connection with the medical entrance test. On Sunday, more than 20 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination across India and abroad. For thousands, it was another chance at their medical dream. For Sana, that opportunity never arrived.If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or mentally, seeking support from family members, trusted friends, counsellors or mental health professionals can make all the difference.&nbsp;

A 19-year-old NEET aspirant was found dead at her home in Hyderabad's Miyapur area a day before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. Police recovered a note stating that no one should be held responsible for her death and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

A 19-year-old medical aspirant who was due to appear for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on Sunday (Jun 21) was found dead at her home in Hyderabad's Miyapur area, a day before the test. The tragic death has once again drawn attention to the intense pressure surrounding one of India's most competitive entrance examinations. Police have identified the student as Sheikh Sana. According to investigators, she was found hanging in her room on Saturday (Jun 20) afternoon. Suicide note found at scene A note recovered from the scene stated that no one should be held responsible for Sana's death. "No one is responsible for my death. I am taking my life," the note reportedly read. Sana had spent the past year preparing for NEET and was scheduled to take the re-examination on Sunday after the original May 3 test was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak. Also read | NEET re-exam: Rajasthan youth arrested for selling fake papers on Telegram; fresh scam surfaces despite app ban According to police, Sana lived in an apartment with her two younger sisters while their parents worked in Kuwait. The children were looked after by their aunt, who lives nearby. Investigators said the three sisters had breakfast together on Saturday morning before Sana went into her room to study. Hours later, when her siblings called her for lunch, she did not respond. The police were informed of her death later in the evening. They have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to her death. Another NEET dream cut short Officials said Sana had scored above 90 per cent in her intermediate examinations and had been focused on securing a medical seat. While the investigation is ongoing, police believe academic stress may have played a role. "She has been preparing for NEET for a year. We think the academic pressure caused significant mental distress," a police official said. Also read | Bizarre NEET admit card error: Aspirant gets Abu Dhabi centre instead of Nagpur, NTA blames 'technical glitch' after online outrage The tragedy adds to a series of student suicides reported from different parts of the country in connection with the medical entrance test. On Sunday, more than 20 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination across India and abroad. For thousands, it was another chance at their medical dream. For Sana, that opportunity never arrived. If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or mentally, seeking support from family members, trusted friends, counsellors or mental health professionals can make all the difference.

A 19-year-old NEET aspirant was found dead at her home in Hyderabad's Miyapur area a day before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. Police recovered a note stating that no one should be held responsible for her death and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

NEET re-exam: A day before re-examination, Hyderabad aspirant found dead; suicide note says, 'no one is responsible'

Security has been significantly strengthened across all 128 examination centres in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. Authorities conducted mock drills at various centres across the Union Territory on Saturday to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the examination.&nbsp;Nearly 50,000 medical aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir are set to appear for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 re-examination on Sunday, nearly seven weeks after the original examination was cancelled amid allegations of a question paper leak that sparked nationwide controversy, legal scrutiny, and political debate.&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;Unprecedented security in place</h2>&nbsp;The pen-and-paper examination will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm at designated centres across the country. In a bid to restore confidence in the examination process and eliminate any possibility of malpractice, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced an unprecedented set of security measures. For the first time, the Indian Air Force has been tasked with transporting sealed question papers. Additional safeguards include end-to-end secure handling of confidential materials, GPS-enabled transportation with police escorts, CCTV surveillance linked to centralised control rooms, Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, and mandatory frisking using high-sensitivity metal detectors.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/neet-ug-2026-after-blaming-technical-glitch-nta-now-claims-student-chose-abu-dhabi-via-own-login-1781953782405">NEET-UG 2026: After blaming technical glitch, NTA now claims student chose Abu Dhabi via own login</a>&nbsp;In Jammu and Kashmir, extensive administrative and security arrangements have been put in place. The School Education Department ordered the suspension of classwork on Saturday in all 60 higher secondary schools designated as NEET examination centres across Kashmir. Private coaching institutes throughout the Valley have also been directed to remain closed on Sunday to facilitate the smooth conduct of the examination.&nbsp;Meanwhile, elaborate security measures were also visible in Handwara, where Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were deployed at examination centres. A dog squad was pressed into service as part of enhanced security protocols.&nbsp;&nbsp;Authorities conducted stringent security checks and crowd-management exercises to maintain transparency and ensure a hassle-free environment for candidates. &nbsp;

Nearly 50,000 medical aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir are set to appear for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 re-examination on Sunday, nearly seven weeks after the original examination was cancelled.

Security has been significantly strengthened across all 128 examination centres in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. Authorities conducted mock drills at various centres across the Union Territory on Saturday to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the examination. Nearly 50,000 medical aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir are set to appear for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 re-examination on Sunday, nearly seven weeks after the original examination was cancelled amid allegations of a question paper leak that sparked nationwide controversy, legal scrutiny, and political debate. Unprecedented security in place The pen-and-paper examination will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm at designated centres across the country. In a bid to restore confidence in the examination process and eliminate any possibility of malpractice, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced an unprecedented set of security measures. For the first time, the Indian Air Force has been tasked with transporting sealed question papers. Additional safeguards include end-to-end secure handling of confidential materials, GPS-enabled transportation with police escorts, CCTV surveillance linked to centralised control rooms, Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, and mandatory frisking using high-sensitivity metal detectors. ALSO READ: NEET-UG 2026: After blaming technical glitch, NTA now claims student chose Abu Dhabi via own login In Jammu and Kashmir, extensive administrative and security arrangements have been put in place. The School Education Department ordered the suspension of classwork on Saturday in all 60 higher secondary schools designated as NEET examination centres across Kashmir. Private coaching institutes throughout the Valley have also been directed to remain closed on Sunday to facilitate the smooth conduct of the examination. Meanwhile, elaborate security measures were also visible in Handwara, where Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were deployed at examination centres. A dog squad was pressed into service as part of enhanced security protocols. Authorities conducted stringent security checks and crowd-management exercises to maintain transparency and ensure a hassle-free environment for candidates.

Nearly 50,000 medical aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir are set to appear for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 re-examination on Sunday, nearly seven weeks after the original examination was cancelled.

Security tightened across J&K ahead of NEET-UG re-examination

Just two days before nearly 23 lakh students are due to sit for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, police in Rajasthan on Friday (Jun 19) arrested a man accused of selling fake question papers through Telegram. The accused, identified as Akash Chaudhary from Bhilwara's Patel Nagar area, was allegedly operating a Telegram channel that circulated fake NEET question papers and targeted anxious aspirants ahead of Sunday's examination.The fresh scam has emerged despite India imposing a temporary ban on the Telegram app till June 22. In a statement issued on Tuesday (Jun 16), the NTA said authorities had imposed two temporary restrictions on Telegram in India following recommendations made by the agency. The first measure restricts access to Telegram in India until June 22, covering the day of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination and its immediate aftermath. The second requires the platform to disable its message-editing feature for already posted messages in India until June 30.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/neet-2026-re-exam-nta-conducts-nationwide-mock-drills-what-new-safeguards-have-been-introduced-and-will-they-restore-students-trust-wion-decodes-1781930591535">NEET 2026 re-exam: NTA conducts nationwide mock drills, highlights new safeguards. Can it restore students' trust? | WION Decodes</a><h2>How did the suspect bypass Telegram ban?</h2>According to police, the suspect, Chaudhary, used a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass restrictions and conceal his identity while running the channel. "Through the VPN app, he was able to open (Telegram)," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Nemi Chand Chaudhary.The accused has been arrested by Pratap Nagar police and produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody until June 22. "The accused created a fake paper related to the NEET examination and was allegedly selling it through Telegram. A case has been registered and the investigation is ongoing. He had around 54 subscribers on his Telegram group. We will investigate everyone connected to the operation," the officer said.Police believe the case may be part of a wider network exploiting students ahead of the re-examination, which is being conducted following the cancellation of the original NEET-UG test over paper leak allegations.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/emergency-nature-of-situation-justified-telegram-ban-delhi-hc-upholds-app-restriction-till-june-22-ahead-of-neet-re-exam-1781846378059">Emergency nature of situation justified Telegram ban: Delhi HC upholds app restriction till June 22 ahead of NEET re-exam</a><h2>Delhi High Court upholds Telegram temporary ban</h2>The government's decision to temporarily ban Telegram received judicial backing on Friday (Jun 19) when the Delhi High Court upheld the temporary restriction.Justice Tejas Karia observed that Telegram's architecture makes it particularly vulnerable to misuse. The court noted that features such as large public channels, mirror groups, cloud storage and editable messages allow fraudulent content to spread rapidly and reappear even after specific channels are removed.The court also highlighted concerns that edited messages can be manipulated to create the false impression that examination questions were leaked before the test, fuelling panic among students and parents. &nbsp;

Just days before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, Rajasthan Police arrested a Bhilwara man accused of selling fake question papers through Telegram. How did he bypass the platform's temporary ban in India? All you need to know.

Just two days before nearly 23 lakh students are due to sit for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, police in Rajasthan on Friday (Jun 19) arrested a man accused of selling fake question papers through Telegram. The accused, identified as Akash Chaudhary from Bhilwara's Patel Nagar area, was allegedly operating a Telegram channel that circulated fake NEET question papers and targeted anxious aspirants ahead of Sunday's examination. The fresh scam has emerged despite India imposing a temporary ban on the Telegram app till June 22. In a statement issued on Tuesday (Jun 16), the NTA said authorities had imposed two temporary restrictions on Telegram in India following recommendations made by the agency. The first measure restricts access to Telegram in India until June 22, covering the day of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination and its immediate aftermath. The second requires the platform to disable its message-editing feature for already posted messages in India until June 30. Also read | NEET 2026 re-exam: NTA conducts nationwide mock drills, highlights new safeguards. Can it restore students' trust? | WION Decodes How did the suspect bypass Telegram ban? According to police, the suspect, Chaudhary, used a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass restrictions and conceal his identity while running the channel. "Through the VPN app, he was able to open (Telegram)," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Nemi Chand Chaudhary. The accused has been arrested by Pratap Nagar police and produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody until June 22. "The accused created a fake paper related to the NEET examination and was allegedly selling it through Telegram. A case has been registered and the investigation is ongoing. He had around 54 subscribers on his Telegram group. We will investigate everyone connected to the operation," the officer said. Police believe the case may be part of a wider network exploiting students ahead of the re-examination, which is being conducted following the cancellation of the original NEET-UG test over paper leak allegations. Also read | Emergency nature of situation justified Telegram ban: Delhi HC upholds app restriction till June 22 ahead of NEET re-exam Delhi High Court upholds Telegram temporary ban The government's decision to temporarily ban Telegram received judicial backing on Friday (Jun 19) when the Delhi High Court upheld the temporary restriction. Justice Tejas Karia observed that Telegram's architecture makes it particularly vulnerable to misuse. The court noted that features such as large public channels, mirror groups, cloud storage and editable messages allow fraudulent content to spread rapidly and reappear even after specific channels are removed. The court also highlighted concerns that edited messages can be manipulated to create the false impression that examination questions were leaked before the test, fuelling panic among students and parents.

Just days before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, Rajasthan Police arrested a Bhilwara man accused of selling fake question papers through Telegram. How did he bypass the platform's temporary ban in India? All you need to know.

NEET re-exam: Rajasthan youth arrested for selling fake papers on Telegram; fresh scam surfaces despite app ban

With less than 24 hours to go before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has rolled out what it describes as a "comprehensive security framework" to ensure the integrity of the national entrance test. The move comes after the original May 3 exam was scrapped amid allegations of a coordinated paper leak that triggered nationwide outrage and forced a re-test for nearly 23 lakh aspirants.To test its preparedness, the NTA will conduct a nationwide mock drill today (Saturday, Jun 20), reviewing everything from question paper transportation to candidate verification and centre-level security protocols.The examination will be held in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 5:15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. More than 22.79 lakh candidates are expected to appear for the test.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/telegram-banned-in-india-nta-clarifies-restrictions-on-messenger-app-ahead-of-neet-2026-re-exam-1781587210607">Telegram banned in India? NTA clarifies restrictions on messenger app ahead of NEET 2026 re-exam</a><h2>What new safeguards have been introduced by NTA?</h2>The agency, as per reports, has introduced multiple layers of security aimed at preventing any repeat of the controversy that derailed the original examination.Confidential examination materials (question papers) are being transported in GPS-enabled vehicles under police escort, while examination centres have been equipped with CCTV surveillance and real-time monitoring systems. Aadhaar-based biometric authentication has also been made mandatory, although candidates facing technical issues or fingerprint mismatches will be allowed entry after manual verification.More than two lakh personnel, including observers, invigilators, district officials and police personnel, have been deployed across 551 Indian cities and 14 overseas centres.The NTA has also taken the unusual step of temporarily restricting access to Telegram in India until June 22, arguing that the platform was being misused by cheating networks to circulate fake question papers and create fabricated evidence of leaks.To ensure candidates' convenience, examination centres have been equipped with adequate drinking water, sanitation facilities, electricity backup, fans and medical support. Additional biometric devices and trained staff have also been deployed to streamline verification procedures.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/emergency-nature-of-situation-justified-telegram-ban-delhi-hc-upholds-app-restriction-till-june-22-ahead-of-neet-re-exam-1781846378059">Emergency nature of situation justified Telegram ban: Delhi HC upholds app restriction till June 22 ahead of NEET re-exam</a><h2>How are students and parents reacting?</h2>Student reactions remain mixed. Many aspirants have welcomed the stricter measures, particularly the crackdown on Telegram. Several students told ANI that stronger monitoring was necessary to protect candidates who had spent months preparing for the examination. &nbsp;"This is a good step, but the main focus should be on the root cause. Those who indulge in leaking examination papers should be identified," a Delhi-based aspirant told the news agency.Others, however, remain unconvinced. Some students argued that restricting a single platform would not eliminate malpractice, especially when leaked material can quickly migrate to other social media networks. "... Students work extremely hard to crack these exams... The government's ban on Telegram until exams end is right, as leaks spread fast online. Other such platforms could also be restricted for a limited time to stop paper leaks..." sn Indore based student said.A section of aspirants also pointed out that Telegram is widely used for legitimate study material and revision resources. "... Other social media platforms should also be monitored, with strict checks. The NTA should be aware of this. Simply banning Telegram won't help much, as many students use it for free study resources..." noted a student from Kota.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cockroach-janta-party-heads-to-delhi-s-jantar-mantar-again-for-protest-dipke-asks-supporters-to-bring-thali-and-chamach-here-s-why-neet-leak-1781927757065">Cockroach Janta Party heads to Jantar Mantar again; Dipke asks supporters to bring 'thali' and 'chamach'. Here's why</a><h2>What logistical challenges remain?</h2>Despite the heightened security, managing nearly 23 lakh candidates remains a massive challenge. Authorities would need to coordinate secure paper delivery, biometric verification, crowd management and emergency response across thousands of centres.Candidates have been advised to reach centres early and verify locations through admit cards rather than relying solely on navigation apps.Meanwhile, a bizarre case of a NEET aspirant being allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, despite opting for Nagpur as his preferred test city, has also come to light.<h2>Will these measures restore trust?</h2>This remains the biggest question. Recently, India has seen a massive wave of student protests, partially triggered by a satirical movement known as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The organisation launched by Abhijeet Dipke has already held protests that saw thousands take to the streets in Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Amritsar. The party, which has the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Prasad among its primary demands, has scheduled another protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday (Jun 20) - the same day as the NEET re-examination nationwide mock drill. In an unusual request to his fellow 'cockroaches', <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cockroach-janta-party-heads-to-delhi-s-jantar-mantar-again-for-protest-dipke-asks-supporters-to-bring-thali-and-chamach-here-s-why-neet-leak-1781927757065">Dipke has asked supporters to carry ‘thalis’ and ‘chamach’ to the gathering.</a>Meanwhile, on social media, a surge of posts and videos claim that another paper leak is underway. NTA Director General Abhishek Singh has dismissed the recent social media claims of another paper leak as "fake" and insisted that question papers remain secure.&nbsp;

With nearly 23 lakh candidates set to appear for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21, the NTA has launched its most extensive security operation yet, including GPS-tracked question papers, biometric verification, CCTV monitoring and a Telegram ban. But can it restore students' trust?

With less than 24 hours to go before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has rolled out what it describes as a "comprehensive security framework" to ensure the integrity of the national entrance test. The move comes after the original May 3 exam was scrapped amid allegations of a coordinated paper leak that triggered nationwide outrage and forced a re-test for nearly 23 lakh aspirants. To test its preparedness, the NTA will conduct a nationwide mock drill today (Saturday, Jun 20), reviewing everything from question paper transportation to candidate verification and centre-level security protocols. The examination will be held in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 5:15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. More than 22.79 lakh candidates are expected to appear for the test. Also read | Telegram banned in India? NTA clarifies restrictions on messenger app ahead of NEET 2026 re-exam What new safeguards have been introduced by NTA? The agency, as per reports, has introduced multiple layers of security aimed at preventing any repeat of the controversy that derailed the original examination. Confidential examination materials (question papers) are being transported in GPS-enabled vehicles under police escort, while examination centres have been equipped with CCTV surveillance and real-time monitoring systems. Aadhaar-based biometric authentication has also been made mandatory, although candidates facing technical issues or fingerprint mismatches will be allowed entry after manual verification. More than two lakh personnel, including observers, invigilators, district officials and police personnel, have been deployed across 551 Indian cities and 14 overseas centres. The NTA has also taken the unusual step of temporarily restricting access to Telegram in India until June 22, arguing that the platform was being misused by cheating networks to circulate fake question papers and create fabricated evidence of leaks. To ensure candidates' convenience, examination centres have been equipped with adequate drinking water, sanitation facilities, electricity backup, fans and medical support. Additional biometric devices and trained staff have also been deployed to streamline verification procedures. Also read | Emergency nature of situation justified Telegram ban: Delhi HC upholds app restriction till June 22 ahead of NEET re-exam How are students and parents reacting? Student reactions remain mixed. Many aspirants have welcomed the stricter measures, particularly the crackdown on Telegram. Several students told ANI that stronger monitoring was necessary to protect candidates who had spent months preparing for the examination. "This is a good step, but the main focus should be on the root cause. Those who indulge in leaking examination papers should be identified," a Delhi-based aspirant told the news agency. Others, however, remain unconvinced. Some students argued that restricting a single platform would not eliminate malpractice, especially when leaked material can quickly migrate to other social media networks. "... Students work extremely hard to crack these exams... The government's ban on Telegram until exams end is right, as leaks spread fast online. Other such platforms could also be restricted for a limited time to stop paper leaks..." sn Indore based student said. A section of aspirants also pointed out that Telegram is widely used for legitimate study material and revision resources. "... Other social media platforms should also be monitored, with strict checks. The NTA should be aware of this. Simply banning Telegram won't help much, as many students use it for free study resources..." noted a student from Kota. Also read | Cockroach Janta Party heads to Jantar Mantar again; Dipke asks supporters to bring 'thali' and 'chamach'. Here's why What logistical challenges remain? Despite the heightened security, managing nearly 23 lakh candidates remains a massive challenge. Authorities would need to coordinate secure paper delivery, biometric verification, crowd management and emergency response across thousands of centres. Candidates have been advised to reach centres early and verify locations through admit cards rather than relying solely on navigation apps. Meanwhile, a bizarre case of a NEET aspirant being allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, despite opting for Nagpur as his preferred test city, has also come to light. Will these measures restore trust? This remains the biggest question. Recently, India has seen a massive wave of student protests, partially triggered by a satirical movement known as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The organisation launched by Abhijeet Dipke has already held protests that saw thousands take to the streets in Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Amritsar. The party, which has the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Prasad among its primary demands, has scheduled another protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday (Jun 20) - the same day as the NEET re-examination nationwide mock drill. In an unusual request to his fellow 'cockroaches', Dipke has asked supporters to carry ‘thalis’ and ‘chamach’ to the gathering. Meanwhile, on social media, a surge of posts and videos claim that another paper leak is underway. NTA Director General Abhishek Singh has dismissed the recent social media claims of another paper leak as "fake" and insisted that question papers remain secure.

With nearly 23 lakh candidates set to appear for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21, the NTA has launched its most extensive security operation yet, including GPS-tracked question papers, biometric verification, CCTV monitoring and a Telegram ban. But can it restore students' trust?

NEET 2026 re-exam: NTA conducts nationwide mock drills, highlights new safeguards. Can it restore students' trust? | WION Decodes

The Centre has temporarily restricted access to Telegram across India following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), in a move aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. According to the NTA, access to the messaging platform will remain restricted until June 22, while Telegram has also been directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30.The agency said the message-editing function had allegedly been misused in previous instances to fabricate evidence of examination paper leaks. It claimed that channel administrators were able to edit previously posted messages and replace attached files while retaining the original timestamps, creating the impression that question papers had been leaked before an examination.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-joke-politically-immature-dmk-blames-rahul-gandhi-for-split-with-congress-weakening-opposition-1781623315271">‘A joke, politically immature’: DMK blames Rahul Gandhi for split with Congress, weakening opposition</a>The NTA further alleged that several Telegram channels operating under names such as "PAPER LEAKED NEET", "Re-NEET 2026" and "Private Mafia" were attempting to mislead aspirants by falsely claiming they could provide access to the NEET question paper.The decision has triggered widespread debate online, with many social media users questioning whether blocking a messaging platform addresses the root causes of examination security breaches.<h2>Internet reacts to Telegram restriction</h2>Among those reacting to the move was whistleblower Nisarga Adhikary, who previously highlighted discrepancies in the examination system."Can't stop paper leaks, ends up blocking telegram," Adhikary wrote on social media.He added, "Blocking telegram totally isn't even possible, telegram is designed in such a way which easily allows people to use proxies and other methods of circumvention."Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ncert-mohenjodaro-dancing-girl-controversy-is-india-s-obsession-with-modesty-threatening-its-culture-1781607488366">NCERT Dancing Girl row: Is modesty obsession threatening India's culture?</a>Several users echoed similar concerns, arguing that the restriction focuses on the medium through which leak claims circulate rather than the source of potential leaks.One social media user wrote, "Right they forgetting discord reddit and other sm, and dark websites… Main problem- leakage from Paper Setters. Leakage from source itself. No one taking proper action on that."&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian government temporarily restricted Telegram to prevent paper leaks for the NEET 2026 re-exam, sparking online backlash for targeting the app instead of fixing systemic paper leaks.

The Centre has temporarily restricted access to Telegram across India following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA), in a move aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. According to the NTA, access to the messaging platform will remain restricted until June 22, while Telegram has also been directed to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. The agency said the message-editing function had allegedly been misused in previous instances to fabricate evidence of examination paper leaks. It claimed that channel administrators were able to edit previously posted messages and replace attached files while retaining the original timestamps, creating the impression that question papers had been leaked before an examination. Also read: ‘A joke, politically immature’: DMK blames Rahul Gandhi for split with Congress, weakening opposition The NTA further alleged that several Telegram channels operating under names such as "PAPER LEAKED NEET", "Re-NEET 2026" and "Private Mafia" were attempting to mislead aspirants by falsely claiming they could provide access to the NEET question paper. The decision has triggered widespread debate online, with many social media users questioning whether blocking a messaging platform addresses the root causes of examination security breaches. Internet reacts to Telegram restriction Among those reacting to the move was whistleblower Nisarga Adhikary, who previously highlighted discrepancies in the examination system. "Can't stop paper leaks, ends up blocking telegram," Adhikary wrote on social media. He added, "Blocking telegram totally isn't even possible, telegram is designed in such a way which easily allows people to use proxies and other methods of circumvention." Also read: NCERT Dancing Girl row: Is modesty obsession threatening India's culture? Several users echoed similar concerns, arguing that the restriction focuses on the medium through which leak claims circulate rather than the source of potential leaks. One social media user wrote, "Right they forgetting discord reddit and other sm, and dark websites… Main problem- leakage from Paper Setters. Leakage from source itself. No one taking proper action on that."

The Indian government temporarily restricted Telegram to prevent paper leaks for the NEET 2026 re-exam, sparking online backlash for targeting the app instead of fixing systemic paper leaks.

'Fix the leak, not the app': Internet reacts to Telegram ban before NEET re-exam

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'Fix the leak, not the app': Internet reacts to Telegram ban before NEET re-exam