Re-NEET UG 2026: NTA Set to Conduct Exam for 22 Lakh Candidates on June 21

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the re-examination of NEET UG 2026 on June 21, with more than 22 lakh candidates set to appear nationwide. The re-test follows the cancellation of the original exam after a paper leak controversy that triggered a Telegram ban, a court case, and a wave of state-level support for students who have shown remarkable resilience through a turbulent few weeks.

Exam Timing & Centres

• Exam date: June 21, from 2 pm to 5:15 pm
• Mode: traditional pen-and-paper
• Total duration increased to 195 minutes — the extra 15 minutes covers attendance verification and other formalities, so writing time isn't affected
• An overseas centre has been set up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for NRI candidates

Admit Card: Released, Over 10 Lakh Downloads

• Admit cards are live on neet.nta.nic.in
• Over 10 lakh candidates have already downloaded their hall tickets
• Login required: application number + date of birth
• Hall ticket includes: name, roll number, photograph, exam date, reporting time, and complete centre address
• The May 3 admit card is no longer valid
• Candidates can download the new admit card even if bank details for the refund aren't updated yet

Fee Refund Window: Extended Amid Fraud Case

• Bank account correction window reopened till June 22, with OTP-based verification
• This follows an arrest: police caught a 19-year-old who allegedly hacked the refund portal and altered bank details for nearly 150 candidates using weak passwords
• Candidates advised to secure accounts and double-check bank details

Telegram Ban: Still in Court

• Telegram access restricted till June 22 to curb misinformation
• Telegram challenged the ban in Delhi High Court
• No interim relief granted so far — the case is still under hearing

🚫 NTA Denies Paper Leak Claims; Exam Not Postponed

• NTA confirms no individual or platform has access to the question paper
• Exam will proceed as scheduled
• The related Supreme Court case is listed for July — after the exam date
• Bihar Police arrested four people for allegedly selling fake question papers to anxious aspirants

Official Updates: Verified WhatsApp Only

• All updates will come only via NTA's verified WhatsApp number: +91 78279 80287
• Candidates warned: never share OTPs or make payments based on unofficial messages

Dress Code & Entry Rules

• Biometric verification (fingerprint/facial) is mandatory at entry
• If biometric verification fails, candidates will still be allowed entry

New Change in Question Booklet

• Two extra rough-work pages added, based on feedback from the earlier exam
• Available in both English and regional languages

States Step Up with Travel Assistance

• Haryana & Andhra Pradesh: free bus travel
• Uttar Pradesh: 50% fare concession
• Madhya Pradesh: special trains on June 20
• Delhi: cooling zones with drinking water and first aid at all 97 centres for waiting families

Exam Pattern

Marking scheme: +4 for every correct answer, −1 for every incorrect response.

What Happens Next

• NTA will release a provisional answer key after the exam
• A window for objections will follow before the final key is published
• Looking ahead: NEET UG 2027 will shift to computer-based testing — making this one of NEET's last pen-and-paper exams

A Word for the Aspirants

Kota-based aspirant Varchasvi captured the resilience shown by many candidates who restarted their preparation after the paper leak and found their footing again ahead of the re-test. For the 22 lakh-plus students appearing on June 21, that journey from disruption back to readiness is itself worth recognizing. Extra rough sheets, added time, cooling zones, and free travel — the system has tried to meet students halfway. The rest is now in their hands, and walking into the exam hall on June 21 is, in itself, a win worth being proud of.