The National Testing Agency (NTA) is all set to conduct the NEET-UG re-examination tomorrow, marking a significant logistical and security challenge. Approximately 22 lakh candidates are expected to participate in this massive medical entrance test across the country. In preparation for the high-stakes event, a comprehensive nationwide mock drill was conducted on Saturday, June 20. Various teams comprising the police, district administration, and examination center authorities worked in coordination to ensure that the centers are fully prepared to prevent any instances of paper leaks or cheating during the Sunday examination. Security arrangements have been tightened to an unprecedented level to maintain the integrity of the process.
Massive Scale and Infrastructure
Following the concerns raised by previous paper leak incidents, conducting a glitch-free examination has become a primary challenge for the NTA. To accommodate the 22 lakh students, the agency has established a vast network of 5,440 examination centers. These centers are spread across 551 cities in India and 14 cities located abroad. The examination will be conducted in English and 12 other Indian languages to ensure accessibility for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. More than 95,000 examination rooms have been prepared to host the candidates, with each room being strictly monitored.
High-Tech Surveillance and Monitoring
The NTA has deployed a multi-layered technological shield to prevent malpractice. A total of 1,38,560 CCTV cameras have been installed across all centers, ensuring that every corner of the examination hall is under watch. These cameras will provide live feeds to a centralized control room, allowing for real-time monitoring at the national, state, and ministry levels. Plus, the CCTV footage will be analyzed using AI-based technology to detect any suspicious movements or activities. To block electronic communication, 51,311 jammers have been deployed at the centers. The movement of examination papers will also be tracked via GPS, and police escorts will be provided to ensure the safe transit of confidential materials.
Extensive Manpower and Security Personnel
The human resource deployment for this exam is equally massive, with over 2 lakh employees involved in the process. This includes 674 city coordinators and 6,669 observers who will oversee the conduct of the exam. Each examination center will have a dedicated Centre Systems Officer (CSO) and approximately 10 additional examination personnel. To prevent impersonation, Aadhaar-based biometric verification and face authentication have been made mandatory. A specialized team of 38,795 frisking staff and 48,448 biometric verification personnel has been assigned to handle candidate entry. On average, 40-50 security personnel from the police and paramilitary forces will be stationed at each center. The Indian Air Force and the Postal Department are also assisting in the security and logistics of the examination.
Logistics and Candidate Welfare
The NTA has also focused on the logistical security of the examination materials. Confidential papers are being stored in approximately 1,500 bank branches under the supervision of designated officials. For the collection of OMR sheets after the exam, nearly 700 collection centers have been set up across the nation. Beyond security, the NTA has made arrangements for the comfort of students and their parents. Facilities such as drinking water, ORS, and ambulances will be available at the centers. Shaded waiting areas have been provided for parents. Inside the halls, wall clocks have been installed in every room, and additional rough work pages will be provided to the students. The duration of the examination has also been adjusted to account for the time taken during the rigorous entry and verification process.
Strict Vigil Against Rumors
In addition to physical and digital security, the NTA is maintaining a strict vigil on social media platforms to curb the spread of rumors and fake claims regarding paper leaks. Candidates and their parents have been strongly advised to rely only on official information released by the NTA. While measures like metal detectors, CCTV surveillance, and thorough frisking are expected to prevent cheating inside the halls, the NTA remains focused on the larger challenge of preventing any pre-examination leaks to restore the credibility of the NEET-UG process.