Centre may use IAF planes to fly NEET papers for June 21 retest

NEW DELHI: To prevent paper leak in NEET-UG, Centre is actively exploring the use of IAF aircraft for transporting question papers for the June 21 retest, as part of a wider "whole-of-govt" security strategy involving the home ministry, central agencies and state police networks, reports Manash Gohain.The proposal was discussed at a high-level meet led by defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and attended by education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, senior PMO officials, NTA DG Abhishek Singh and top bureaucrats from multiple ministries. According to education ministry sources, govt is considering deploying IAF only for transportation logistics "because of time constraints and because govt doesn't want to take any chances this time".Sources stressed that no final decision has yet been taken and the proposal will be placed before PM Narendra Modi before any formal approval.The move, however, acknowledges the ever-evolving tricks used by those determined to leak papers of the entrance test for coveted seats in medical colleges, and the importance for govt to ensure the forthcoming NEET’s integrity. “The approach this time is that every vulnerable point in the examination chain must be secured with maximum redundancy and supervision. Govt is leaving no stone unturned,” a source said.The sources said if the IAF plan is implemented, its planes will deliver exam papers for the forthcoming NEET to select locations in a state, such as Lucknow, Agra and Gorakhpur and Varanasi in UP; Patna and Darbhanga in Bihar; Kolkata and Bagdogra in Bengal. From then on, state agencies will take over the job of transporting papers to districts and keeping them in safe custody and delivering them to exam centres. Currently, delivery of papers is handled by a postal department.Officials said the meeting carried out a detailed review of the entire exam cycle — from empanelment of paper setters and printing protocols to transportation routes, storage facilities, distribution networks and last-mile security arrangements at exam centres.Besides exploring use of the IAF, discussions also focused on deeper coordination with MHA and state home departments for secure movement and monitoring of question papers. Sources said district administrations and police units are likely to be integrated more closely into the transportation and custody chain.The PM is understood to be personally monitoring preparations for the June 21 retest and is being regularly briefed on operational and security measures linked to the exam process, officials said. NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled on May 12 after allegations of a question paper leak. CBI has arrested 13 people from different cities.