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NEW DELHI: In one of the most stringent examination-security exercises undertaken in recent years, all experts involved in setting, moderating and translating the NEET-UG 2026 retest question paper have been moved to a secure, undisclosed location and placed under strict isolation protocols, with authorities virtually eliminating external communication in the final stages of paper preparation.The “lockdown” will be in place till the end of the exam on June 21.The extraordinary arrangements are part of a sweeping overhaul of the examination security architecture following the paper leak controversy that forced cancellation of the NEET-UG, held in May, and trig-gered nationwide concern among more than 22 lakh candidates.Lockdown just the 1st layer of multi-tier security frameworkOfficials familiar with the preparations said paper setters, moderators, translators and other personnel associated with the confidential stages of question paper development are staying at a secured facility under supervision.Mobile phones, laptops and personal communication devices have been restricted, while access to the internet and outside contacts has been tightly controlled. Entry and exit are being monitored and documented, with only authorised personnel permitted access to the facility. Digital devices, including smartwatches, are kept out of bounds, they said.The “lockdown” of the paper-setting process forms the first layer of a multi-tier security framework put in place by the education ministry and National Testing Agency (NTA) ahead of the June 21 re-examination — to be conducted in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 5.15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.Officials said every stage of the examination cycle — from question paper development and translation to moderation, printing, packaging, storage, transportation and distribution — is now being subjected to enhanced oversight. The entire process has been compartmentalised to ensure that no single individual or group has access to the complete chain of operations.The transportation of question papers has emerged as another critical focus area. Govt has explored the use of Indian Air Force aircraft for secure movement of examination material across the country.In the digital domain, authorities are conducting “round-the-clock monitoring of social media platforms, messaging applications and online forums to identify fake question papers, misinformation campaigns and suspicious activity”.It is learnt that Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed officials to ensure that every vulnerability identified in the earlier examination cycle is comprehensively addressed.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAAP Rules Out Tie-Up With Cong, DMK Boycotts INDIA Bloc MeetingHundreds Of Nurses Face Visa, Uncertainty After Dubai Hospital Closure; Kerala CM Writes To PM ModiRitabrata Banerjee Questions Abhishek’s Leadership Style, Raises Chartered Flight IssueIndia, Indonesia Deepen Strategic Partnership At High-Level Talks In New DelhiFire Breaks Out In Delhi’s New Friends Colony,8 Rescued As Firefighters Battle Smoke-Filled BuildingTMC Faces Fresh Crisis As Mamata Heads To Delhi Amid Reports Of Possible MP RebellionIndia-Bangladesh Border Tension Eases As BSF Says Stranded Bangladeshi Nationals Returned’Ghost Demolition’ In Surat: More Than 100 Homes Razed, Civic Body Denies Ordering ActionCockroach Janta Party Escalates Protest, Gives 7-Day Ultimatum Over Dharmendra Pradhan DemandWest Bengal Launches Statewide Madrasa Survey, Seeks Data On Legal Status, Infrastructure And Staff123PhotostoriesHow often should you really wash your hair this summer?Most people ignore Fatty Liver until it’s too late: Liver transplant surgeon explains why weight loss could change everythingAre you shutting down your child’s curiosity? 4 ways parents unknowingly do so and better ways to respondOrdering at a restaurant, helping with directions, and more: 7 simple ways to build a child’s confidence5 beautiful flowering creepers that double up as living curtainsCancer before 50? 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NEW DELHI: In one of the most stringent examination-security exercises undertaken in recent years, all experts involved in setting, moderating and translating the NEET-UG 2026 retest question paper have been moved to a secure, undisclosed location and placed under strict isolation protocols, with authorities virtually eliminating external communication in the final stages of paper preparation.The “lockdown” will be in place till the end of the exam on June 21.The extraordinary arrangements are part of a sweeping overhaul of the examination security architecture following the paper leak controversy that forced cancellation of the NEET-UG, held in May, and trig-gered nationwide concern among more than 22 lakh candidates.
Lockdown just the 1st layer of multi-tier security framework
Officials familiar with the preparations said paper setters, moderators, translators and other personnel associated with the confidential stages of question paper development are staying at a secured facility under supervision.Mobile phones, laptops and personal communication devices have been restricted, while access to the internet and outside contacts has been tightly controlled. Entry and exit are being monitored and documented, with only authorised personnel permitted access to the facility. Digital devices, including smartwatches, are kept out of bounds, they said.The “lockdown” of the paper-setting process forms the first layer of a multi-tier security framework put in place by the education ministry and National Testing Agency (NTA) ahead of the June 21 re-examination — to be conducted in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 5.15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.Officials said every stage of the examination cycle — from question paper development and translation to moderation, printing, packaging, storage, transportation and distribution — is now being subjected to enhanced oversight. The entire process has been compartmentalised to ensure that no single individual or group has access to the complete chain of operations.The transportation of question papers has emerged as another critical focus area. Govt has explored the use of Indian Air Force aircraft for secure movement of examination material across the country.In the digital domain, authorities are conducting “round-the-clock monitoring of social media platforms, messaging applications and online forums to identify fake question papers, misinformation campaigns and suspicious activity”.It is learnt that Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed officials to ensure that every vulnerability identified in the earlier examination cycle is comprehensively addressed.
