Ahmedabad: The road to medical college has already been unusually bumpy this year. After the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on May 3 was cancelled due to a paper leak, students will once again sit for the test on Sunday. This time, authorities have put in place unprecedented security arrangements covering everything from question paper transport to candidate entry. More than 79,000 students from Gujarat, including over 10,400 in Ahmedabad, will be part of the re-exam.The exam is mandatory for admission to undergraduate medical courses such as MBBS, BDS, ayurveda, and homeopathy.Police and exam authorities have rolled out extensive security measures not only at exam centres but also for the transportation and handling of question papers. Officials said adequate police personnel have been deployed across centres in proportion to the number of candidates appearing for the exam.Nationwide, around 22.8 lakh candidates have registered for NEET-UG this year. Gujarat accounts for 79,190 candidates, who will appear at 211 exam centres across the state. Ahmedabad has the highest concentration of centres, with 23 venues catering to 10,445 candidates.To prevent malpractice, authorities have introduced a multi-layered security mechanism. “Question papers will be transported in GPS-enabled vehicles under police escort, while all exam centres will remain under CCTV surveillance. Candidates will undergo both digital and physical frisking before being allowed entry into exam halls,” said an official.The exam will be conducted from 2pm to 5.15pm. Candidates must report to their respective centres between 11am and 1.30pm, after which entry will not be permitted under any circumstances.Sources said a central control room will closely monitor the exam process throughout the day. Senior police officers, including six deputy commissioners of police and officials of the city crime branch, will conduct inspections and oversee security arrangements at various centres.Authorities have also made arrangements to minimise traffic disruptions around exam venues. Parking facilities have been planned at centres to accommodate parents accompanying candidates.Meanwhile, the city cybercrime branch has been keeping a close watch on cyberspace for any suspicious activity or attempts to circulate exam-related material online, officials said.
