From IAF sorties to Telegram ban: Inside India’s solid plan for a leak-proof Neet retest

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet) UG 2026 paper leak scandal was a severe breach of trust and integrity.

Over 22 lakh aspirants who appeared for the exam were rocked by allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, resulting in the cancellation of the initial May 3 exam. The retest is scheduled for Sunday (June 21).

Security is being heightened. The central government has deployed officers to monitor the conduct. Ahead of the exam, on Wednesday (June 17), the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts competitive entrance exams, urged students to remain calm and not heed rumours of any postponement.

“The NEET UG 2026 examination is just three days away. To every candidate: you have worked hard, you have prepared, and now is the time to trust your effort. Stay calm, rest well, and focus on doing your best. That is all that is asked of you," the NTA said.

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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed all concerned authorities to be extra vigilant and fully prepared, stressing that the examination process must meet the highest standards of integrity, transparency and efficiency.

We take a look.

How are Neet papers being secured before the retest?

Indian Air Force (IAF) has conducted roughly 200 sorties in the last 3-4 days to ferry question papers for reexaminations to 18 designated zones across the nation. On June 13, the mission was launched, and it is approaching completion ahead of the medical entrance exam.

The IAF deployed Mi-17 helicopters and transport aircraft to deliver sealed question papers to their respective destinations.

Since the operation started, the aircraft have completed nearly 200 sorties, ensuring the secure and timely delivery of question papers to distribution hubs nationwide. From these hubs, the question papers will be transported to examination centres under stringent security arrangements, Times of India reported, citing sources.

“The use of IAF aircraft is aimed at guaranteeing foolproof, time-bound delivery," an official said, according to the report.

Why has Telegram been targeted ahead of retest?

On Tuesday (June 16), the Centre restricted access to the messaging platform Telegram in the run-up to the re-examination, citing the need to prevent exam fraud. Following the move, Telegram is set to be unavailable until June 22, and its message-editing feature will also be disabled until June 30, the NTA said on X.

According to NTA, multiple Telegram channels were operating under names such as “PAPER LEAKED NEET", “Re-NEET 2026" and “Private Mafia", to trick aspirants by claiming they could provide access to the question paper.

The platform’s message editing problem is one of the key concerns for investigators. Admins were exploiting this feature to edit older messages and, in some cases, replace them with PDF files to allegedly create fake evidence of question paper leaks, according to NTA.

However, Telegram has challenged the government's temporary ban in court. Its chief executive officer (CEO), Pavel Durov, has called the ban a "mistake", arguing it would punish millions of users.

How are retest paper setters placed under lockdown?

Authorities have implemented extensive security measures, including placing all personnel involved in preparing the examination paper under strict isolation at a secure, undisclosed location.

The restrictions, which will remain in place until the examination concludes, form part of a broader effort to safeguard the integrity of the medical entrance test.

Authorities have tightened controls around the final stages of question paper preparation, placing those involved in setting, moderating and translating the Neet-UG retest paper under strict communication restrictions.

Officials said access to external contacts has been significantly curtailed as part of efforts to safeguard the confidentiality of the examination process.

Authorities familiar with the arrangements said individuals involved in confidential aspects of question paper development are being housed at a secure facility under close monitoring, according to TOI.

What the education minister & NTA said on security

On Thursday (June 18), Pradhan chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials from the Centre, states, and the NTA to assess preparedness for the NEET re-examination.

During the meeting, the minister also announced officers designated by the Ministry of Education to be deployed across states to monitor exam-related activities. They will report to a central command centre headed by the NTA Director General.

According to NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, the agency has been working in close coordination with district-level committees led by district magistrates, as well as state police forces and intelligence agencies, to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination.

The agency also outlined the extensive security and administrative arrangements being put in place for the retest.

“We want to reassure you that extensive arrangements are in place for a safe, secure and fair examination, in close coordination with relevant ministries, state governments and security agencies. The integrity of this process is our highest priority, and robust, multi-layered safeguards have been put in place," the agency said, according to News18.

“Any attempt at malpractice will be dealt with firmly – because protecting honest, hardworking students is exactly what this is about," it added.

With inputs from agencies