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NTA Rejects NEET-UG 2026 Leak Claims, Says Re-Exam Conducted Successfully

Synopsis
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has dismissed a viral video alleging a NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, calling it fake and misleading. The agency said the re-examination was conducted smoothly with extensive security measures and participation from over 20 lakh candidates.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has strongly denied claims of a NEET-UG 2026 paper leak after a video circulating on social media alleged that the examination paper had been compromised.

In a statement posted on X, the agency clarified that the video was fabricated and urged students and parents not to believe or share unverified information. "NTA's attention has been drawn to a fabricated video being circulated on social media regarding NEET (UG) 2026. The video is fake and the claims it makes are false", the agency said.

The agency warned that creating and spreading such misinformation is a serious offense. It said legal action is being initiated against those responsible for producing and circulating the content. "NTA, with the support of I4C and law-enforcement agencies, is taking action against those responsible for originating this content", the statement said.

The testing agency appealed to students, parents, and the general public to rely only on official announcements made through its website and verified social media channels. "Our 20 lakh-plus aspirants deserve a calm and fair process". it said.

The clarification comes shortly after more than 20 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, which was conducted following the cancellation of the original exam amid allegations of a paper leak. The issue had sparked nationwide debate and led to protests demanding accountability.

According to the NTA, the re-examination was held across 5,440 centers in India and 14 overseas centers. The exam was conducted in 13 languages, including English and Hindi.

The agency credited the successful conduct of the examination to a large-scale coordinated effort involving multiple government departments and officials across the country. "This was not the NTA acting alone. It was Team Bharat - a chain of people across the country who showed up so that, for each candidate, the only thing that mattered that morning was the paper in front of them", the agency said.

To ensure smooth operations, around 7 lakh personnel, including examination staff, observers, and police officials, were deployed nationwide. The NTA also acknowledged the contribution of academic experts who helped prepare multiple sets of question papers within a short period.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed the examination arrangements at the NTA headquarters in New Delhi. According to the Ministry of Education, the agency briefed the minister on the logistical and technical measures implemented to ensure transparency and efficiency.

The NTA said special arrangements were made for more than 10,000 candidates with disabilities. Additional support was also provided to students facing medical challenges, including candidates recovering from serious illnesses and accidents.

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To prevent malpractice, the agency deployed Aadhaar-based biometric verification, facial authentication, CCTV surveillance, mobile signal jammers, and two-level frisking procedures at examination centers. Monitoring centers were established at the national, state, and district levels to oversee the process in real time.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said a few cases involving forged admit cards, impersonation attempts, and candidates trying to carry mobile phones into examination centers were detected. However, he emphasized that security systems successfully identified and stopped such attempts.

"At a few places, somebody was trying to take a mobile phone; action has been taken on that because that's the purpose of putting frisking, when you put CCTV cameras, when you put handheld metal detectors, to not allow any unfair means," Singh said.

While investigations into the original paper leak allegations continue, the NTA maintains that the re-examination was conducted fairly and securely, ensuring equal opportunity for all candidates.

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