NEET UG 2026 paper leak: Most Sundays in May booked for exams, re-test tough to slot

MUMBAI: Finding a workable date for a re-NEET is emerging as the immediate hurdle, with most Sundays over the coming weeks already committed to major national and state-level entrance examinations, placing the academic calendar under strain. Since the exam is held in govt schools and colleges, scheduling it on a Sunday ensures availability of a large number of centres, reports

Educationists say the ripple effect of a delay is unavoidable. Even in an optimistic scenario-mid-June re-test and results by mid-July-the counselling cycle is likely to begin only by mid-August, pushing the start of the MBBS academic session back by at least two months.



The calendar is already packed," said a counsellor involved in entrance test coordination. "Securing over 500 centres, mobilising invigilators, and ensuring a smooth, leak-proof examination within a compressed window is not just logistical - it is operationally intensive."

At the same time, legal challenges could further complicate timelines. Some parents are preparing to move court against a re-exam. Parent representative Sudha Shenoy said situation may mirror 2024, when multiple petitions were filed across the country. "Even if exam is conducted by mid-June, entire admission process shifts. Counselling - all-India and state rounds - will move accordingly," she said. The all-India quota counselling is expected to run in first fortnight, followed by state-level rounds, leaving little room for compression. "Govt colleges that begin in early August may now start much later, especially if litigation delays the process further," Shenoy added.