'It Was Very Stressful to Prepare Again': NEET Aspirants Hope For Fair Chance After Paper Leak Row

Last Updated:June 21, 2026, 12:26 IST

NEET UG Exam: Over 22 lakh aspirants to appear amid heightened security. The re-exam will be held from 2 pm to 5:15 pm.

NEET 2026 Exam: Nearly 22 lakh medical aspirants are going to appear for the NEET-UG re-examination on Sunday. Students have begun arriving at the exam centres across the country, hoping for a fair and transparent attempt after the original examination was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak.

The re-exam will be held from 2 pm to 5:15 pm amid heightened security arrangements. More than 22.79 lakh candidates are expected to appear at 5,440 centres spread across 551 cities in India and 14 centres abroad.

The examination was rescheduled after allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in the earlier NEET-UG exam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the case, has made several arrests in connection with the alleged leak.

According to the students, the biggest challenge was not just preparing for the exam again, but dealing with the uncertainty and stress caused by the cancellation.

“Students Prepare for Years, Leaks Affect Everyone"

Speaking to ANI, several NEET aspirants said the re-examination process was stressful but expressed hope that stricter security measures would ensure a fair outcome.

A NEET-UG candidate said preparing for the exam again had been a difficult experience but added that she had worked hard and was ready for the second attempt.

“It was very stressful to prepare for the NEET exam again. I have prepared well for the exam," the aspirant said.

Another candidate, Simran Negi, said the paper felt like a mix of easy and difficult sections, while highlighting the impact of the leak controversy on students who had spent years preparing.

“It was my second time, and the paper felt both easy and difficult. Students prepare for years, and then a leak affects everyone," she said.

Negi welcomed the enhanced security measures, including restrictions on platforms allegedly used for spreading leaked material, and said students who work hard deserve a fair opportunity.

“Those who work hard deserve justice, not to be let down by leaks," she added.

In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, aspirant Diksha said she was nervous but hopeful that the examination process would now deliver justice to deserving candidates.

“I am a little worried. Hardworking students deserve fair results. Having to study again and stay consistent is very difficult. Now the hope is that the exam goes well," she said.

A candidate from Bhubaneswar expressed relief over getting another opportunity, saying students were hopeful that the examination would be conducted smoothly.

“We are very happy that the government has provided us with this facility. The examination will begin at 2 pm. I am hopeful that the exam will go well," the student said.

Students Reach Latur To Appear For NEET UG

Maharashtra’s Latur, which came under scrutiny during the CBI investigation into the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, witnessed students returning to examination halls with renewed determination.

The city has long been a major coaching hub for medical and engineering aspirants, attracting thousands of students from rural districts of Maharashtra every year.

Among those appearing for the re-test was Saurabh Chate from Jalna, who continued his NEET preparation despite the uncertainty surrounding the earlier examination.

For many families in the region, medical education remains a pathway to a better future. Ramkisan Garad, a 79-year-old farmer from Beed district, brought his grandson Shubham to Latur for coaching, hoping he could secure a medical career.

Garad said repeated farming losses due to unpredictable rainfall had strengthened the family’s hopes that education could provide a more stable future for the next generation.

Shubham, who has completed Class 10, has enrolled at a local coaching institute to prepare for NEET in the coming years.

Despite Latur’s association with the leak investigation, some students chose to continue their preparation at the same institutes where they had studied. Saurabh Chate decided to remain at Renukai Career Centre (RCC), whose founder Shivraj Motegaonkar was named by the CBI as an alleged accused in the paper leak case.

Chate said his decision was based on the support he received from teachers throughout his preparation journey.

Another aspirant, Shravani Kadam from Vidya Aaradhna Academy in Latur, said the cancellation of the earlier exam initially caused stress but she regained focus after looking at the larger goal.

She said her elder sister’s experience of taking a gap year for medical admission helped her put the setback into perspective and continue preparing for the re-test.

NEET exam was rescheduled due to “paper leak" and CBI, which is probing the case, has made several arrests.

About the Author

News Desk

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ...Read More

News india 'It Was Very Stressful to Prepare Again': NEET Aspirants Hope For Fair Chance After Paper Leak Row

Read More