Tight security as Indian students resit medical exam after alleged paper leak

Millions of candidates face biometric checks and frisking as air force deployed to secure exam papers. NEET-UG: India students resit intense medical exam after paper leak allegations Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Heightened security at exam centres included metal detectors, CCTV and strict dress codes A female security woman is running a hand-held metal detector over a young woman's hair, as others wait in line. Tight security as Indian students resit medical exam after alleged paper leak Millions of hopeful medical students across India are resitting a crucial exam under unprecedented security, after the first paper was cancelled following allegations that the questions had been leaked. Nervous students were met with biometric identification checks, metal detectors, armoured patrols and frisking at exam centres on Sunday morning. Leaving nothing to chance this time, the Indian Air Force transported the new test papers to some regions, while police and paramilitary officers were deployed at the 5,440 exam centres across the country. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), known as NEET-UG, is required for students to join medical colleges in India. Of the millions who take the exam every year, only a small percentage do well enough to secure a coveted college placement. Nearly 2.28 million candidates sat the exam on 3 May, having studied for months - in some cases years - for the notoriously difficult paper. The news that it had been scrapped was devastating for many students, and the scandal sparked widespread protests and demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. He did not, and told students before Sunday's exam: "Sit fearlessly, without worry, and you will definitely do well." The National Testing Agency (NTA) said every exam room, of which there were more than 95,000, had been fitted with security cameras, and that more than 1.3 million cameras in total had been installed. It added that 51,311 jammers were being used to block phone signals and electrical interference. Controversially, Telegram has been temporarily blocked until Monday, over concerns the messaging app could be used for cheating. It added that 51,311 jammers were being used to block phone signals and electrical interference. Controversially, until Monday, over concerns the messaging app could be used for cheating. Nearly 39,000 frisking staff had been employed across the country to check for any prohibited items, the NTA said, and there would be 40-50 security personnel stationed at every exam centre. had been employed across the country to check for any prohibited items, the NTA said, and there would be 40-50 security personnel stationed at every exam centre. It advised students to "ignore rumours and fake 'paper leak' messages circulating on social media", saying they were designed to "mislead and cause stress". The Indian Air Force was used to transport the new exam papers securely to some regions Officials carry a big green box from a grey helicopter to a red van. India Today reported drones and dog squads had been deployed to keep an eye on the surrounding areas of some centres. It also said that strict dress codes were being enforced, including the banning of enclosed shoes, and that some women had been asked to remove their nose pins and wrist threads. Pictures from outside exam centres showed security personnel inspecting candidates' hair, and taking out their earrings. Despite the heightened security, some students said they were still worried things could go wrong again. "There is fear because the [exam] paper has leaked once already. This is not a one-off thing, it happens every year," one student, who gave their name as Diksha, told Reuters. "This time [the authorities] got to know about it and are holding the exam again, which is in a way a good thing because the students who worked hard should get fair results. But to study and prepare again in one month… to stay consistent is difficult." The cancellation of the exam in May due to allegations of paper leaks sparked student protests Members of the All India Students Federation hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged exam paper leak in Bangalore, India, on 06 June 2026. The exam runs for three hours and 15 minutes, and has 180 questions on physics, chemistry and biology. Many students have private tutoring to help improve their performance in the test, but its difficulty level, paired with how competitive it is to get a college placement, has seen India's organised crime networks take the opportunity to profit from exam fraud. The leak allegations have been handed over to India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It is not the first time the country has faced serious claims of exam cheating and irregularities. In 2024, the same medical test was hit by allegations of paper leaks, fraud and irregularities in the awarding of grace marks, triggering nationwide protests after thousands of candidates received unusually high scores. the same medical test was hit by allegations of paper leaks , fraud and irregularities in the awarding of grace marks, triggering nationwide protests after thousands of candidates received unusually high scores. And earlier this year, results for a Grade 12 exam - equivalent to A-levels in the UK - saw many students complain about marking errors after a new digital marking system had been introduced. - equivalent to A-levels in the UK - saw many students complain about marking errors after a new digital marking system had been introduced. Students check their results on mobile phones after the declaration of the CBSE Class XII results at the premises of St. Thomas' School on May 13, 2026 in New Delhi, India. Hacking claims, mismatched answer-sheets: Controversies rock school exam in India AISA members and students protesting against the NEET-UG 2026 scam at Jantar mantar, on May 14, 2026 in New Delhi, India. 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