Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai, who recently exited the party, on Tuesday raised concerns over the stringent military measures planned for the retest of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination. He said the introduction of strict security protocols to ensure smooth conduct may create a new set of problems for already stressed students. He expressed that the increased scrutiny would add extra pressures to the already distressed students.
Highlighting the govt’s security arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the NEET retest, Annamalai pointed that the measures such as advanced verification systems and enhanced monitoring at examination centres could intensify anxiety among aspirants who have already been preparing for months.
The former BJP leader’s statement comes days before the NEET UG 2026 re-examination. The NEET retest is scheduled to be held on June 21 from 2 pm to 5 pm in pen-and-paper mode, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). On May, the he central government had announced cancellation of the original exam over widespread paper leaks and irregularities.
In a post on ‘X’, the former BJP leader wrote: “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.”
Annamalai also flagged technical issues related to admit cards, noting that students had reported difficulties downloading them. “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,” he said. “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,”, the former BJP leader added.
Authorities have maintained that the measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of one of the country’s most competitive entrance examinations.