Ahmedabad Times

NEW DELHI: The Nationwide Testing Company (NTA) on Friday introduced a collection of modifications to the NEET (UG) 2026 examination, together with an prolonged examination window and a revised query paper booklet design, as a part of efforts to make the take a look at extra candidate-friendly.In a press release the NTA mentioned it’s “dedicated to making sure that NEET (UG)-2026 examination is performed in a way that’s truthful, safe and conscious of the wants of candidates.”“As a part of this effort, a number of candidate-friendly modifications have been launched for NEET (UG) 2026,” the company added.Explaining the premise for the modifications, the company mentioned, “Based mostly on suggestions obtained from candidates through the years, the examination window has been prolonged to 195 minutes and might be from 2:00 PM to five:15 PM.”The NTA clarified that this contains “the time required for obligatory examination formalities equivalent to signing of attendance sheets and different invigilation procedures.”It additional mentioned, “The revised examination window has been designed to make sure that candidates are in a position to make the most of the meant examination time with out feeling that administrative processes are taking away from their alternative to aim the paper.”On modifications to examination supplies, the company mentioned, “Candidates will now be supplied with 4 rough-work pages as an alternative of two, giving them extra room for calculations, diagrams and different workings in the course of the examination.”It added that suggestions had highlighted accessibility issues in earlier codecs. “Earlier, rough-work pages had been offered solely on the finish of the booklet. Whereas this association labored properly for a lot of candidates, suggestions indicated that it was much less handy for some, significantly left-handed candidates.”“To deal with this, two rough-work pages have now been positioned instantly after the instruction web page at first of the booklet, whereas two pages will proceed to be out there on the finish,” the NTA mentioned.The company added that the revised construction has been carried out throughout language variations in order that candidates can use whichever format is extra handy.The NTA mentioned, “Even small enhancements in examination design can have a optimistic affect on the expertise of candidates throughout a high-stakes examination.”It added, “These measures have due to this fact been launched with the target of constructing the examination course of extra comfy and candidate-friendly whereas sustaining the very best requirements of equity and safety.”Candidates have been suggested to fastidiously observe directions offered within the admit card and knowledge bulletin and “cooperate with the examination workers for the graceful conduct of the examination.”

Key modifications introduced by NTA:

The event follows earlier disruption within the NEET-UG 2026 cycle after the Nationwide Testing Company cancelled the examination amid allegations of a coordinated query paper leak. The examination, initially performed on Might 3 for over 22 lakh candidates, was cancelled on Might 12 after reviews of irregularities, triggering widespread anger and agitation amongst aspirants and oldsters. Rajasthan Police SOG had flagged a “guess paper” circulating on messaging platforms that reportedly matched a lot of questions from the take a look at. The case was subsequently handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation for an in depth probe into the alleged leak.