NEET UG 2026 has emerged as one of the most widely discussed exams this year. Although it was initially conducted on May 3, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled it on May 12 following a paper leak controversy. The move impacted over 22 lakh students nationwide, many of whom had dedicated months to preparation. Investigations later revealed that the question paper had allegedly been accessed by some candidates before the exam. A re-examination has now been scheduled for June 21.
Key Changes Announced by NTA
Ahead of the re-test, the NTA has introduced several measures to improve the exam experience. These include additional time, increased rough-work space, and modifications to the question booklet format.
Increased Exam Duration
The NTA has extended the duration of the NEET UG 2026 re-exam from 180 minutes to 195 minutes. This gives students an extra 15 minutes to complete the paper. The exam will now take place from 2 PM to 5:15 PM in pen-and-paper mode. According to the NTA, the additional time has been provided to ensure candidates do not lose writing time due to attendance checks and other initial formalities.
More Space for Rough Work
The agency has also expanded the rough-work section in the question booklet. Students will now have access to four pages instead of two, offering more room for calculations, diagrams, and other workings during the exam.
Changes in Question Booklet Layout
In a further update, two rough-work pages have been moved to the beginning of the booklet, immediately after the instruction page, while the remaining two pages will continue to appear at the end. The revised format will be available in both English and regional language versions of the question paper. The NTA stated that these changes were introduced after considering feedback from candidates over the years.
FAQs
1. Why was NEET UG 2026 cancelled?The exam was cancelled due to a paper leak controversy, after it was found that the question paper had allegedly reached some candidates before the test.
2. When will the NEET UG 2026 re-exam be conducted?
The re-examination is scheduled to take place on June 21, 2026.
3. What is the new exam duration for the re-test?
The duration has been increased from 180 minutes to 195 minutes, giving students an additional 15 minutes.
4. What are the new exam timings?
The exam will be held from 2 PM to 5:15 PM in pen-and-paper mode.
5. Has the rough work space been changed?
Yes, candidates will now get four rough-work pages instead of two in the question booklet.
