The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination for admission to MBBS courses was conducted peacefully across Jharkhand on Sunday amid extensive security arrangements and heightened vigilance by authorities.
A total of 67 examination centres were set up across the state, where around 30,000 candidates appeared for the test after the original examination held on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak.
CCTV Surveillance and Strict Checking Drives Ensure Fair NEET Re-Test
Police conducted checking drives at hotels and lodges as a precautionary measure to ensure the examination was conducted in a fair and transparent manner. Security personnel were deployed at all centres, while vehicles transporting question papers were escorted by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and district police teams.
In Ranchi, the examination was held smoothly at all 21 centres, Ranchi SP (City) Paras Rana said. He added that all centres were under CCTV surveillance and equipped with mobile signal jammers. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS were enforced within a 200-metre radius of examination venues. Of the 10,874 candidates registered in Ranchi, 9,965 appeared for the examination, while 909 remained absent.
Lengthy and Concept-Based: Jharkhand Candidates React to Tougher Paper
Many candidates described the paper as lengthy and concept-based. An examinee from Deoghar said the paper was more time-consuming than the cancelled examination and felt she had performed better in the earlier test. Another candidate, Adwika Sinha, said the questions required conceptual understanding and adequate time to solve.
In Jamshedpur, students expressed relief that the examination was conducted without controversy. Shambhavi Tewari, who topped the ISC Class XII Bio Science stream this year, described the paper as lengthy and challenging, particularly the Physics and Chemistry sections.
Several candidates appreciated the additional 15-minute grace period provided before the examination. Tamana Dubey said the extra time helped candidates complete procedural formalities and focus on the paper without disturbance. Another candidate, Md Shakeel, also welcomed the measure but felt the overall paper was tougher than expected.
Out of 4,322 candidates issued admit cards in Jamshedpur, 3,882 appeared at eight centres, while 440 remained absent. The highest absentee count was recorded at Jamshedpur Co-operative College.
The examination was also conducted peacefully in East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Palamu, Bokaro and Hazaribag districts under tight security arrangements. Officials reported no major complaints or untoward incidents from any centre.
To facilitate candidates, the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway operated a special train between Rourkela and Tatanagar, while two special trains were run from Ranchi to Dhanbad and Palamu.
