NEET-UG retest for 1,563 candidates on June 23 

The NEET-UG retest for 1,563 candidates is scheduled for Sunday, June 23, with officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union Education Ministry overseeing the exam at the centres, according to a senior NTA official. This retest comes after the NTA retracted the grace marks initially awarded to candidates who were compensated for lost time due to delayed starts at six centres in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh.

The retest will take place at seven centres, six of which are new. The Chandigarh centre, where only two candidates will appear, remains unchanged, as stated by the senior NTA official. Officials from both the NTA and the Education Ministry will be present at the centres to ensure the exam proceeds smoothly.

This decision to re-conduct the exam follows allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks, in the NEET-UG. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan clarified on Thursday (June 20) that cancelling the entire exam was not an option, as it would jeopardise the futures of many students who had rightfully passed. Instead, the retest aims to address the isolated incidents of malpractice while upholding the integrity of the exam process.

The retest is a significant measure to maintain fairness and transparency in the highly competitive medical entrance exam. With strict supervision and new exam centres, the NTA aims to provide a level playing field for all candidates, ensuring that the results accurately reflect their abilities without the influence of earlier discrepancies.