"More rough-work space, extended examination window...": NTA announces student-friendly measures for NEET (UG) 2026
New Delhi, June 12
The National Testing Agency on Friday announced a series of student-centric measures for the upcoming NEET 2026 examination, scheduled for Sunday, aimed at making the exam more comfortable and convenient for candidates.
To ensure candidates have adequate time for the examination, NTA has extended the examination window to 195 minutes, from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm. This window includes invigilation formalities such as signing at the start and end of the exam, which previously reduced candidates' effective working time.
"By setting the window at 195 minutes inclusive of formalities, we have ensured that the time available for the examination is fully protected," the agency said in a statement.
In a move to enhance convenience, the number of pages for rough work in the question-paper booklet has been doubled, from two to four pages. Candidates can use the rough-work pages provided at the beginning and end of the booklet to work through calculations and reasoning.
To better accommodate left-handed candidates, who constitute nearly 10% of examinees, NTA has redesigned the placement of rough-work pages. Earlier provided only at the end of the booklet, two rough-work pages will now be placed immediately after the instruction page, in addition to the pages at the end. The redesign applies to both the English and regional-language versions of the question paper.
"These small, thoughtful changes in examination design can make a meaningful difference to a candidate's comfort during the high-stakes hours of the exam," the NTA said, reaffirming its commitment to conduct NEET (UG) 2026 in a fair, secure, and candidate-friendly manner.
The agency emphasised that it would continue to improve the examination experience for the lakhs of aspirants who appear each year.
NEET-UG 2026 has been rescheduled for June 21, following allegations of paper leaks and administrative lapses. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its probe and has made multiple arrests.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Doubling rough work pages from 2 to 4 is good, but why not provide separate rough sheets? We need proper space for calculations in physics and chemistry. Still, better than nothing. 🧮
Ab tak toh humne NEET UG 2026 ko leke kuch aur hi soch rakha tha, par NTA ne acchi baat ki hai. Left-handed students ke liye rough pages redesign karna thoughtful move hai. 👏👏 Chand badlavon se kaafi farak padta hai.
These changes are welcome but let's not forget the real issue - paper leaks and CBI investigation. Students deserve a secure exam environment. Fixing the administrative mess is more important than rough pages. 😤 #NEETUG2026
Mera beta do saal se NEET ki tayyari kar raha hai. Yeh chhoti chhoti changes bahut helpful hain. 195 minutes inclusive of formalities means actual exam ka time zyada milega. NTA ko aur bhi student-friendly measures lani chahiye! 🇮🇳💪
While I appreciate the extended time window, I'm concerned about the rescheduling to June 21 due to paper leaks. NTA should focus on foolproof systems rather than last-minute fixes. Students' hard work deserves better security. 😕
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.