New Delhi: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses (NEET-UG) re-examination commenced across India and at overseas centres on Sunday under stringent security arrangements, following the cancellation of the May 3 examination amid allegations of a question paper leak.

Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the examination began at 2:00 pm and will conclude at 5:15 pm. Candidates have been allotted an additional 15 minutes compared to the earlier examination.

More than 22 lakh medical aspirants are appearing for the re-test, which is being conducted at 5,440 centres spread across 551 cities in India and 14 international locations. The examination is being held in English and 12 Indian languages.

In a bid to ensure transparency and prevent any malpractice, the NTA has significantly enhanced security measures at examination centres. Officials said that over 95,000 examination rooms have been brought under CCTV surveillance, while 1,38,560 cameras have been installed across the country.

The surveillance system is being monitored in real time through virtual control rooms at the national, state and ministry levels to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the examination.

The re-examination follows widespread concerns over the integrity of the original NEET-UG examination held on May 3, after allegations of a question paper leak surfaced from several states. Authorities have stated that the strengthened security protocols are aimed at restoring confidence in the country’s largest medical entrance examination.

The NEET-UG examination serves as the gateway for admission to undergraduate medical and allied health science courses across India.