NTA extends NEET-UG exam time by 15 mins

With days to go before the June 21 NEET-UG 2026 re-test, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday announced a clutch of student-friendly measures, including a 15-minute extension of the exam duration and doubling the space provided for rough work.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Dr TV Somanathan reviewed preparedness for the medical entrance exam with the NTA Director General while warning that anyone who attempts to compromise the test will face "the full might and weight of the law". The NEET-UG 2026 test was originally held on May 3 but was cancelled following a suspected paper leak, which is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In a bid to ease pressure on students ahead of the re-test, NTA said the exam window would be extended by 15 minutes - from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm - taking the total duration to 195 minutes to allow elbow room for administrative formalities such as biometric registration and signing attendance sheets, which had previously eaten into candidates' writing time.


Alongside, NTA has doubled the rough-work space from two pages to four. The blank pages for calculations will now be placed at the beginning of the question booklet instead of at the back.

In keeping with universal design, the physical layout of the booklet has also been restructured to support left-handed candidates, who account for nearly 10% of aspirants.

Meanwhile, a multi-layered security apparatus has been readied ahead of the re-test, with the Cabinet Secretary stressing that authorities across the Centre, state governments and district administrations should work in absolute sync to guarantee an airtight process.

"The full might and weight of the law will fall on any person trying in any manner to distort, disrupt or tamper with the integrity or smooth conduct of the re-examination," Somanathan warned.

Somanathan had earlier held a coordination meeting with central government secretaries and relevant agencies on June 1, followed by a comprehensive review with state chief secretaries on June 4 to finalise pan-India logistics and security protocols.