Over 2.2 million candidates in India retook the national medical entrance exam NEET after its results were canceled due to an alleged question paper leak. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to India's National Testing Agency (NTA), more than 200,000 personnel, including police and paramilitary units, were deployed for the exam.
Participants were checked with metal detectors, subjected to personal searches, and biometric identification.
Aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force were used to deliver exam materials to some regions. Over 95,000 exam halls were equipped with surveillance cameras, and question papers were tracked via GPS.
Tens of thousands of mobile signal jammers were also deployed.
The retake was ordered after the results of the May exam were questioned due to reports of a possible leak. Authorities launched an investigation, and the NTA announced a retest for all participants.
In preparation for the retake, authorities temporarily restricted Telegram, claiming the messenger was used to distribute exam materials.
NEET is India's primary medical entrance exam and one of the most competitive in the world. Over two million candidates take it annually, but only a small fraction secure admission. Many candidates admitted that having to retake the exam added to their stress.
Following the leak reports, student protests erupted across the country, demanding exam integrity and a thorough investigation.
At least 13 people have been arrested in connection with the leak, including a chemistry teacher from Pune, P.V. Kulkarni, whom investigators believe to be one of the alleged organizers.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that a court in New Delhi dismissed Telegram's appeal and upheld the temporary block of the messenger in India as legal.