EducationNews – NEET-UG Retest Scheduled as Centre Announces Major Exam Reforms
EducationNews – The Central government has announced that the re-examination for NEET-UG will be conducted on June 21, following concerns over irregularities in the earlier test. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the National Testing Agency (NTA) is introducing several changes to improve transparency and restore confidence among students preparing for medical admissions across the country.
Government Promises Strict Action Against Malpractice
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Education Minister said the government remains committed to protecting the interests of students and ensuring that deserving candidates are not affected by unfair practices. He assured aspirants that authorities would not allow examination malpractice to repeat in the future.
Pradhan stated that the administration understood the anxiety and hard work of students appearing for the highly competitive examination. He also described the cancellation of the previous exam as a difficult but necessary decision taken in the larger national interest.
Verification Process Led to Cancellation Decision
According to the minister, officials began reviewing reports related to the examination on May 8. The verification exercise continued for four days before the Centre concluded that the question paper had been compromised through leaked material circulated as so-called “guess papers.”
He explained that after confirming the breach, the government decided on May 12 to cancel the examination in order to ensure fairness for all candidates. The minister added that the move was aimed at preventing educational fraud networks from harming genuine students seeking medical admissions.
NTA to Shift NEET Exam to CBT Mode
One of the major announcements made during the briefing was the transition of NEET-UG to Computer-Based Test mode from next year. The government believes the digital format will strengthen security measures and reduce the chances of paper leaks or tampering.
The minister said this reform is part of a broader effort to modernize the examination process and improve accountability. He also noted that recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee after previous examination controversies had already been implemented for the 2025 and 2026 examination cycles.
Despite those measures, the latest incident still occurred, prompting authorities to take stricter corrective steps.
Education Ministry Defends National Testing Agency
Pradhan defended the role of the National Testing Agency while acknowledging the seriousness of the incident. He said the organization remains accountable and continues to conduct examinations for nearly one crore students annually across India.
The minister emphasized that the issue should be viewed as a challenge related to the examination system rather than targeting any single institution. He also assured students that the government is working toward eliminating operational errors within the agency.
Fee Refund and Fresh City Selection for Candidates
In a relief measure for students, the government announced that examination fees paid earlier would be refunded. Candidates appearing for the fresh examination will not be charged any additional fee.
The NTA will also allow students to select their preferred examination city again. Officials said this step was necessary because many candidates had already returned to their hometowns or relocated after the previous examination.
A detailed notification regarding city selection and examination procedures is expected to be released publicly by the NTA soon.
Exam Duration Increased for Student Convenience
The Education Ministry also confirmed that the duration of the examination will be extended by 15 minutes. The revised timing will now run from 2 pm to 5:15 pm instead of concluding at 5 pm.
The additional time is intended to help students complete attendance formalities and other procedural requirements without feeling rushed during the examination process.
Pradhan further stated that the Centre would coordinate with state governments to ensure transportation support and minimize difficulties for students travelling to examination centres. He added that admit cards for the re-examination would be issued to all registered candidates by June 14.