NEET UG 2024 – A year after paper leak, 700 more test centres, police escort for question papers
District administrations were enlisted; following the document leak last year, new measures included multi-layered frisking and 5,500 centers.
The Ministry of Education and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have implemented several measures for the upcoming NEET-UG exam, including more than 700 additional testing locations compared to the previous year, increased district administration participation, and security measures that include a police escort for the transportation of question papers.
Given that the exam was tainted by a paper leak last year, which exposed the NTA to criticism, preparation and administration are being keenly watched this year. A high-level committee led by former ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan was established in the wake of the NEET-UG disaster to recommend policies for the equitable and seamless administration of public exams.
On May 4, NEET UG 2025 will take place in pen and paper format. Last year, more than 24 lakh applicants registered for the test.
NEET-UG will take place at 5,500 centers this year, up from 4,750 last year and 4,097 in 2023, according to Ministry of Education sources. In accordance with the high-level committee’s recommendations, district-level coordination committees have been established, led by the district magistrate and consisting of a police officer. According to the source, these district-level committees are now essential as the panel emphasized the necessity to forge closer ties between the district administration and the NTA while administering tests. These committees have also identified and approved testing locations.
More government-run institutions have been used in the selection of testing centers, according to sources. The NTA administers tests in both private testing facilities owned by service providers and government-sponsored schools, colleges, and other establishments. The district-level committees have also been entrusted with making sure that exam centers are adequately furnished with CCTVs and other essential infrastructure.
The safe transportation of NEET UG question papers to testing locations and the return of OMR sheets to the district coordinator or nodal officer for subsequent submission to the NTA are currently being handled by the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, according to an official.
Verification of the exam centers’ ground floor rooms, operational CCTV cameras, and adequate property security is another task for the district administration.
A third-party evaluation of NEET-UG exam centers last year discovered flaws, such as some centers without operational CCTVs.
According to a source, the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education has met with police and district magistrates on a number of occasions to “ensure their cooperation.” The insider went on to say that this involves making sure that there is a police escort for the transportation of question papers, security at the testing locations, and candidate authentication. To make sure students are ready for the test, district magistrates and police officers are also visiting the centers. Exam centers were previously required to frisk using handheld metal detectors, but this time the district police and security officers assigned by the NTA would also conduct “multi-layered” frisking as part of the security routine.
