NEET UG 2026 Retest: Bengaluru Students Denied Entry, Nagpur Student Assigned Centre in Abu Dhabi
After the NEET UG 2026 re-test was held under tight security, entry issues and administrative errors kept the exam in the spotlight as students now await the results.
The NEET UG 2026 exam has been under scrutiny ever since it was first conducted on 3 May 2026. Allegations of paper leaks, result irregularities and poor management sparked nationwide protests by students and parents, eventually leading the National Testing Agency (NTA) to cancel the exam and announce a re-test.
On 21 June 2026, more than 22.79 lakh students appeared for the NEET UG re-test. Determined to restore trust in the examination process, the NTA introduced some of the strictest security measures ever seen in a national entrance exam.
Examination centres were equipped with CCTV cameras, Aadhaar-based biometric verification, GPS tracking of question papers, strict entry checks and enhanced monitoring systems. The NTA also launched a special portal where people could report suspected paper leaks, impersonation attempts and other suspicious activities.
In a first, biometric verification was made mandatory not only for students but also for teachers and examination staff. More than 2 lakh personnel were deployed across the country to conduct the exam smoothly.
Despite the heightened security, some issues still emerged.
In Bengaluru, videos showed students in tears outside an examination centre after arriving just minutes late. Reports said some reached the venue around 1:32 p.m., only to find the gates already locked. Some students even climbed over railings in an attempt to enter, but were denied access.
Heavy traffic caused by a political rally in the area was reportedly one reason for the delay.
Meanwhile, a student from Nagpur, Abdullah Mohammad Talib, faced an unusual problem. While he had been allotted a centre in Nagpur for the original exam, his re-test admit card assigned him a centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Shocked by the error, his family contacted the NTA, explaining that Abdullah did not even have a passport.
The issue was later corrected, but the incident drew criticism from several leaders, who called it a serious administrative mistake.
Despite these setbacks, the NTA maintained that the re-test was conducted successfully and that the new security measures helped prevent major irregularities.
Now, with the examination over, students and parents are closely watching the next stage—the results—hoping that this chapter of controversy finally comes to an end.
