NEET UG Re-Exam 2026: NTA makes biometric verification mandatory, issues exception guidelines

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has mandated stringent biometric verification for all candidates appearing in the NEET UG 2026 re-examination this Sunday, June 21, introducing crucial exception guidelines to manage technical hitches. This move comes as India's premier undergraduate medical entrance exam navigates heightened scrutiny following the cancellation of the May 3 exam due to widespread paper leak allegations, aiming to restore credibility and ensure fairness for millions of aspiring doctors. The rigorous biometric protocols, encompassing fingerprint and facial recognition checks, are a direct response to a burgeoning crisis of exam integrity that has plagued several high-stakes Indian competitive tests. With investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) ongoing into the alleged paper leak of the earlier NEET UG 2026 exam and concerns over organized impersonation rackets, the NTA, backed by recommendations from the Radhakrishnan Committee, is deploying multi-layered security measures from AI-powered CCTV surveillance to jammers and live photography to prevent malpractices. For the re-exam, scheduled from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM IST, candidates are assured that genuine technical issues preventing biometric verification will not bar their entry, provided they submit a written undertaking. Beyond security, the NTA has also implemented student-friendly changes like doubling rough work pages and extending exam duration by 15 minutes for administrative tasks, while actively combatting misinformation with a dedicated reporting portal and the MANAS mental health helpline. The spotlight remains on the NTA capacity to deliver a truly transparent examination, with calls from parliamentary panels for a time-bound roadmap for broader reforms, including a shift to computer-based testing by 2027.