NEET Exam – Government Announces Fresh Medical Entrance Test on June 21
NEET Exam – The Centre has announced a fresh schedule for the NEET-UG examination after confirming irregularities linked to the recent paper leak controversy. The revised test will now be conducted on June 21, while major reforms, including a shift to computer-based testing, are planned for future examinations.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the National Testing Agency (NTA) would organise the NEET-UG re-examination later this month after the government verified that exam questions had been circulated illegally. The announcement came during a press briefing in which the minister assured students that authorities were taking strict steps to restore confidence in the examination process.
According to the minister, the government spent several days reviewing evidence before deciding to cancel the earlier examination. Officials reportedly began verification procedures on May 8, continuing the investigation over the following four days. Once authorities confirmed that question papers had been leaked through material presented as “guess papers,” the Centre decided to scrap the examination in the interest of fairness.
Government Promises Strict Action Against Irregularities
Pradhan stated that the government would not tolerate any compromise involving students’ futures and emphasised that deserving candidates should not suffer because of organised malpractice. He added that the Centre remained committed to protecting honest aspirants who had prepared sincerely for the highly competitive medical entrance test.
The minister also said that the matter had been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a detailed inquiry. He warned that individuals linked to the leak, whether connected to the NTA or operating externally, would face strict legal action. Authorities, he said, were determined to identify everyone involved in the alleged network behind the malpractice.
Shift to Computer-Based Testing From Next Year
One of the major announcements made during the briefing was the decision to transition NEET-UG to a computer-based examination system from next year. The minister explained that CBT mode is considered more secure than the current OMR-based system and could help reduce the risk of paper leaks and manual manipulation.
He acknowledged that cyber-related threats remain a challenge but maintained that strengthening digital systems and monitoring processes would improve the overall reliability of national-level examinations. The government believes that technology-driven testing can help ensure greater transparency and accountability.
Previous Committee Recommendations Already Implemented
Pradhan said the Centre had already implemented recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee after controversies linked to earlier examinations. According to him, those reforms had been adopted fully for the 2025 and 2026 examination cycles. Despite those measures, the latest incident still occurred, prompting the government to take the exceptional step of cancelling the test.
He defended the National Testing Agency, saying the organisation handles examinations for nearly one crore students annually and remains capable of conducting large-scale competitive tests. The minister added that the government would continue efforts to improve operational standards and minimise the possibility of future errors.
Relief Measures Announced for Students
To reduce the burden on candidates, the government announced that examination fees paid for the cancelled test would be refunded. Students appearing for the re-examination will not be required to pay any additional fee.
The NTA will also allow candidates to choose their preferred examination cities again, as many students may have already returned to their hometowns after the earlier exam. A detailed public notice regarding the revised process is expected to be issued shortly.
In another relief measure, the duration of the examination has been extended by 15 minutes. The revised schedule will now allow students to write the test from 2 pm until 5:15 pm.
Coordination With States for Student Convenience
The Union minister further said the Centre would coordinate with state governments to help students facing travel-related difficulties during the re-examination. He added that discussions with Chief Ministers would be held to ensure transportation and logistical arrangements remain smooth for candidates across the country.
Admit cards for the revised NEET-UG examination are expected to be released by June 14. Officials hope the additional measures and tighter monitoring will help restore trust among students and parents ahead of the fresh examination process.