Indian Students Resit Medical Entrance Exam Under Extensive Security After Leak
Millions of aspiring medical students across India have retaken the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), known as NEET-UG, under stringent security protocols. This follows the cancellation of the initial examination held on 3 May, due to widespread allegations that the question paper had been leaked.
Unprecedented Security Measures Deployed
On Sunday morning, students arriving at the 5,440 examination centres nationwide were subjected to a comprehensive array of security checks. These included biometric identification, metal detectors, and individual frisking. The logistical challenge of distributing new test papers was met with significant efforts, including the use of the Indian Air Force for transport to certain regions, alongside the deployment of police and paramilitary officers at all venues.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) reported installing over 1.3 million security cameras across more than 95,000 examination rooms. Additionally, 51,311 signal jammers were activated to prevent electronic interference. Controversially, the Telegram messaging application was temporarily blocked in India over concerns it could be exploited for cheating. Nearly 39,000 staff were employed specifically for frisking, with each centre hosting 40-50 security personnel.
Allegations of Systemic Fraud and Student Concerns
The NEET-UG exam is crucial for gaining entry into medical colleges in India, with only a small fraction of the millions of annual candidates securing placements. The cancellation of the May exam, after months, and in some cases years, of study, prompted widespread protests and calls for the Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, to resign.
Despite the heightened security, some students expressed ongoing apprehension. One student, identified as Diksha, told Reuters, "There is fear because the [exam] paper has leaked once already. This is not a one-off thing, it happens every year." The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the leak allegations.
This incident is not isolated. In 2024, the same medical test faced accusations of paper leaks, fraud, and irregularities in grace mark allocations, leading to nationwide demonstrations after an unusually high number of candidates received exceptional scores. Earlier this year, a Grade 12 exam also saw numerous complaints about marking errors following the introduction of a new digital marking system.
