K Annamalai Questions High-Level Security for NEET Re-exam, Cites Exam Pressure

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NEW DELHI: Ex-BJP Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai questioned the high-level security for NEET-UG re-exam scheduled for June 21. He said that the involvement of CRPF, CISF along with multi-level oversight with direct monitoring from the Prime Minister’s office seemed as if the arrangements were to "buy high-level, classified, military-grade software. " He said that increased scrutiny would "only add to already ballooning exam pressure" of the aspirants. "Two-tier CRPF+CISF escort with IAF airlift. 4-layer CCTV with AI surveillance. Biometric & facial recognition before entry. Multiple layers of frisking. Multi-level oversight with direct monitoring from the Prime Minister’s office. Yes, you read it right. But these are not arrangements to buy high-level, classified, military-grade software. These are the arrangements made by the Ministry of Education for the NEET retest scheduled for 21st June 2026," Annamalai said in a post on X. "Every student would appreciate the government's efforts to prevent paper leaks by implementing additional security measures and enhanced monitoring. But an increase in scrutiny before entry, extended frisking, and an increase in the overall exam time from 180 minutes to 195 minutes will only add to their already ballooning exam pressure," he added. He also questioned whether the elaborate arrangements were consistent with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which seeks to reduce exam-related stress among students. He further noted reports of difficulties faced by candidates while downloading admit cards and urged authorities to ensure that logistical issues do not compound students' anxieties. "While the government has taken measures to contain leaks, they have forgotten the additional burden they have imposed on a young student before they take up an assessment, one that they have spent months preparing for, dissolving the entire purpose of our exam system and the NEP 2020’s goal to reduce 'Exam Stress'," he said. "Despite all these arrangements for the examination, there are issues with downloading the admit cards, and NTA has assured students that it will resolve them at the earliest. Yes, there are challenges that demand meaningful solutions. However, I am concerned that the approach devised for the NEET retest may not resolve the issue; instead, it risks creating a new set of problems," he added.

What BJP said

Responding to his remarks, a BJP leader Selva Kumar defended the Centre's approach, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally monitored the NEET paper leak issue while education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had been working continuously over the past month to address concerns. The leader said the security framework was formulated after extensive consultations involving multiple ministries, including the Defence, Communications and Education ministries, and was subsequently placed before the Supreme Court. "The prime minister himself closely monitored the NEET paper leak issue, and the education minister took accountability and has been working round the clock for the past one month," he said. The leader acknowledged that students would have to spend an additional 15 minutes undergoing security checks and verification but stressed that the arrangement was temporary and aimed at ensuring a leak-free examination. "This is a one-time measure and from next time it will all be computer-based," the leader said. The BJP leader also accused "anti-BJP forces" of attempting to politicise the issue after protests over the examination controversy failed to gain traction. "We understand that after the Cockroach Party’s protests failed at multiple locations, anti-BJP forces have now activated their newly acquired toolkit," he said. The ministry of education has rolled out an extensive security framework for the examination, featuring CRPF and CISF escorts for question papers, Indian Air Force airlift support, AI-enabled multi-layer CCTV monitoring, biometric and facial verification of candidates, multiple rounds of frisking, and real-time oversight by the Prime Minister's Office.