In a first, Centre may use armed forces for NEET-UG re-exam logistics on June 21
The armed forces’ role would be confined to logistical coordination, secure transportation, and emergency contingencies linked to weather, not exam oversight
The Centre is considering turning to the armed forces to assist in conducting the NEET-UG re-examination on June 21 — a first for any national entrance test — as the government races to ensure a secure and error-free exercise for over 2.2 million students after the original examination was cancelled amid allegations of paper leak and malpractice.
Army and Air Force assistance may be used for question paper delivery during the nationwide NEET-UG re-examination on June 21.
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A high-level review meeting chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh was held at his residence on Thursday, with Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, senior ministers, and top officials of National Testing Agency and the education ministry in attendance.
The meeting reviewed the entire examination chain — from question paper setting and printing to transportation, security, and last-mile delivery.
“NEET-UG is the biggest pan-India level offline exam involving over 2.2 million students. We will take help from the Army in logistics wherever they can help us. With limited time remaining for the exam, the Air Force can help us in delivery of question papers in adverse weather conditions like rainfalls, storms etc. Not just Army, home ministry, state governments, Information Technology ministry, post department, civil aviation and ministry of external affairs are helping us in conducting the re-exam on June 21. We want to ensure an error-free and smooth exam,” a senior NTA official told HT.
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The official indicated that the armed forces’ role would be confined to logistical coordination, secure transportation, and emergency contingencies linked to weather disruptions — not examination oversight. A defence ministry spokesperson declined to officially comment.
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The official indicated that the armed forces’ role would be confined to logistical coordination, secure transportation, and emergency contingencies linked to weather disruptions — not examination oversight. A defence ministry spokesperson declined to officially comment.
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If approved, it would mark the first time the military is formally involved in logistics linked to a national entrance examination. The Indian armed forces are routinely called upon by civil authorities during disasters, rescue operations, and humanitarian emergencies — the Army for flood relief and rescue, the Air Force for strategic airlift of relief material and medical teams, and the Navy for evacuation operations in India and abroad.
The CBI, which is investigating the alleged NEET-UG 2026 irregularities, has arrested 13 accused so far in connection with the paper leak.
Sanjay Maurya is a Principal Correspondent with Hindustan Times, where he covers education, with a focus on school and higher education, competitive examinations, education policy and governance. Working as part of the National Bureau, he is based in New Delhi and reports on the Ministry of Education and covers various statutory bodies like UGC, AICTE and NCTE and autonomous bodies like CBSE and NCERT. His reporting also tracks the implementation of key government reforms and policies from school education to higher education including in IITs, NITs, IIMs, central and state universities, and their impact on students and educational institutions. His reporting on the irregularities and rushed implementation of CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for evaluation of Class 12 board exams 2026, triggered administrative action, leading to the transfer of the board's two senior-most officials and the constitution of a committee to probe alleged irregularities in procurement process of the system. He joined Hindustan Times in December 2024. Prior to that, he had a three-year stint at Careers360, where he reported on school and higher education, entrance examinations, admissions, rankings and various education policies involving universities and professional education bodies. Over the years, Maurya has reported extensively on major developments in India's education sector, including the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA) following the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, changes in school education, higher education regulation, and the evolution of entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE and CUET. He regularly produces data-driven and explanatory stories based on government documents, parliamentary proceedings, court records and official data. His focus remains on helping readers understand how education policies and institutional decisions affect millions of students, teachers and educational institutions across the country.
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Home/India News/In a first, Centre may use armed forces for NEET-UG re-exam logistics on June 21
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