Nadda reviews NEET-PG 2026 preparations; cautions against paper leak rumours

New Delhi: Health Minister J P Nadda evaluated the preparations for the NEET-PG 2026 examination on Saturday, urging all entities to ensure the exam proceeds smoothly, securely, transparently, and technologically advanced. However, he cautioned candidates against rumors and deceitful claims of leaked question papers. The NEET-PG 2026 is set for August 30, with the test to be held in a single session across around 340 cities and more than 1,300 centers.

Over 273,183 candidates have registered, marking a 12.5% increase from the previous year, according to the health ministry.

During the meeting, Nadda inspected the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), technology partners, and other stakeholders. He reviewed examination logistics, candidate support measures, security protocols, and the technological tools implemented for this year's exam. Nadda stressed the importance of fair, transparent, and candidate-friendly testing, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and security. He instructed all relevant agencies to work together to provide a smooth experience for candidates.

Nadda urged students not to be swayed by rumors or deceitful assertions about the exam. He explained that the final question paper is chosen using a highly secure, encrypted, and time-bound process shortly before the test begins, with multiple technical and operational safeguards to keep its contents confidential until the designated start time.

Any claim of pre-examination access to the question paper is entirely false and aims to mislead candidates, he stated, advising students to rely solely on official communications from NBEMS and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They should also report any suspicious activities or attempts at unfair practices.

New measures for this year include candidates selecting three state preferences for test centers, with state of residence as the mandatory first preference to facilitate closer center allocation. Test city intimation will be sent nearly three weeks before the exam to assist candidates in planning travel and lodging. The examination pattern has been adjusted to 180 questions to be completed in 210 minutes, offering candidates more time per question while keeping the overall exam duration unchanged.

Aadhaar-based verification is being used both during the application and on the exam day, with iris-based biometric authentication employed when fingerprint verification fails.

Nadda also reviewed the extensive security measures, including advance sealing and verification of examination centers, CCTV surveillance, biometric authentication, candidate frisking, signal jammers deployment, dynamic computer allocation, live monitoring via central and regional command centers, and real-time supervision by independent observers and assessors.

Over 60,000 examination officials will be engaged in the exam conduct. Officials informed the minister that the entire question paper preparation and delivery process has been reinforced through multiple layers of encryption, secure offline preparation, time-bound finalization of the paper right before the exam, and controlled digital decryption only at the scheduled test start.

To prevent unfair practices, NBEMS has set up a dedicated email address for reporting impersonation, promotion, and other misconduct, and regularly informs candidates about vigilance and awareness.