No Phones, No Internet: NTA keeps NEET re-exam paper setters in isolation till June 21

No phones, no internet and complete isolation- NTA has locked down NEET 2026 re-exam paper setters till June 21 after the massive paper leak controversy.

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has put in place unprecedented security arrangements for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled on June 21 after the cancellation of the May 3 exam over a massive paper leak controversy.

More than 22 lakh students had appeared for the medical entrance test, making it one of the biggest examination crises in recent years.

Paper Setters Under Complete Isolation

According to reports, the NTA formed a special team of teachers and subject experts nearly 20 days ago to prepare the new question paper. The experts have reportedly been kept under complete isolation with no access to mobile phones, internet services or any outside communication.

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The restrictions will remain in place until the re-examination is conducted on June 21. Officials say the move is aimed at ensuring that no information related to the question paper leaks before the exam.

Air Force To Transport Question Papers

Security around the examination process has also been significantly strengthened. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been tasked with transporting question papers securely across the country.

Apart from this, nearly five lakh security personnel are expected to be deployed for examination-related duties at various centres. Authorities are also planning extensive surveillance to prevent any malpractice during the exam.

AI Surveillance And Social Media Monitoring

The NTA and security agencies will use AI-enabled CCTV cameras and advanced monitoring systems to track suspicious activities. Social media platforms are also being monitored closely to identify any attempt to circulate leaked papers or fake claims related to the examination.

Officials believe these steps will help restore confidence among students and parents after the paper leak controversy.

Existing Protocols Tightened Further

Large-scale examinations like NEET already follow strict protocols, including preparation of multiple sets of question papers by separate teams so that no individual knows which paper will finally be selected.

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However, the recent leak exposed major loopholes in the system. During the ongoing CBI investigation, the name of subject expert PV Kulkarni emerged in connection with the case. He was later arrested for allegedly accessing multiple versions of the question paper.

Re-Exam On June 21

After several meetings between the Ministry of Education and the NTA, authorities decided to conduct the NEET-UG re-examination on June 21 in pen-and-paper mode. The paper leak case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).