With the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2026 re-test scheduled for June 21, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced an unprecedented measure in a bid to ensure the integrity and security of the pan-India medical entrance exam, which suffered a leak in May this year. As part of the enhanced measures, the NTA has reportedly placed the team responsible for preparing the re-exam question papers under strict isolation.

Notably, the ramped up security protocol comes against the backdrop of the cancellation of the May 3 exam following allegations of a question paper leak.

New SOPs for exam paper setters

Apart from being placed in isolation, a group of teachers and subject experts tasked with setting the exam has been working in a controlled environment for nearly 20 days. They have been denied access to cell phones, internet services and external communication channels. Moreover, their interaction with the outside world has been kept to an absolute minimum.

Officials aware of the development said that these restrictions will remain in force until the re-exam is conducted successfully on June 21, ensuring that the confidentiality of the question paper is maintained at every stage.

Security beefed up across India

Authorities are leaving little to chance in their effort to conduct a leak-proof re-test. In a major step, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been entrusted with transporting question papers to exam centres across the country. Meanwhile, close to 5 lakh security personnel are expected to be deployed to monitor exam-related operations and maintain strict vigilance.

The NTA has also roped in advanced technological safeguards, including AI-enabled surveillance cameras and real-time monitoring of social media platforms to identify and prevent any suspicious activity related to the examination process.

Existing safeguards enhanced after leak row

Traditionally, large-scale competitive exams such as NEET follow a multi-layered paper-setting system. Several versions of the question papers are prepared independently, ensuring that no single person is aware of the final paper selected for the test.

However, the recently-reported paper leak row exposed cracks in the system and prompted a comprehensive review of the existing procedures. The CBI has been spearheading the paper leak row since May 12, 2026, and identified the involvement of one PV Kulkarni, a long-time NTA subject expert. The CBI sleuths claimed he had access to multiple versions of the NEET question paper. He was subsequently arrested for leaking the paper to select students.

The CBI probe into the case is still underway, officials said.