Nagpur: Security measures usually associated with big political rallies and religious gatherings have been put in place for NEET re-test scheduled on Sunday. Officials described it as one of the most extensive security operations ever mounted for a public exam in the country. On Saturday, a joint team comprising paramilitary personnel, local police, district administration officials and representatives of National Testing Agency (NTA) carried out a comprehensive dry run at examination centres in the district to ensure smooth and fair conduct of the national-level medical entrance examination. More than two lakh students across Maharashtra, including around 12,000 candidates from Nagpur, will appear for the test. Nagpur district has been allotted 30 examination centres, including one centre in a rural area. Officials said all examination venues were sanitised, inspected and sealed after the rehearsal exercise.The extraordinary measures come in the wake of last month ‘s paper leak controversy that raised serious concerns about the integrity of the examination process.In an unprecedented exercise, question papers were transported using Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters before being shifted to designated safe houses and secure vaults under armed guard. Sealed consignments were escorted by police and paramilitary forces across Maharashtra before being placed in treasury vaults and bank lockers. The papers remain under round-the-clock surveillance and will be released only hours before the examination begins. Authorities have deployed a multi-agency security framework involving the NTA, district administrations, police departments, paramilitary forces, the Indian Air Force, the Department of Posts and custodian banks. At national level, NTA has used extensive surveillance systems, including live CCTV monitoring, AI analysis of camera feeds, biometric verification, face authentication and electronic jammers.
