NEET UG 2026 leak fallout: CISF to guard NTA exam areas at new Delhi office

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has deployed 39 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and implemented enhanced security measures at its new office in the Government of India Press Building on Minto Road, New Delhi. This deployment, which commenced on 27 September 2026, aims to prevent future paper leaks and address administrative lapses, particularly in the wake of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

The move involves a complete overhaul of both physical and digital security protocols, including strict access controls, advanced screening, and continuous monitoring of sensitive operations. These measures are a direct response to the scrutiny faced by the NTA following repeated incidents of paper leaks and the Supreme Court’s reprimand that the agency had ‘not learnt its lessons’.

Enhanced Physical Security at New NTA Office

The NTA has relocated its confidential and sensitive operations from its earlier office in Okhla to a new facility on Minto Road. A dedicated over 55,000 square feet office space has been allotted to the NTA within the Government of India Press Building, specifically occupying the fifth floor and parts of the fourth and sixth floors. Confidential and sensitive operations were shifted to this new building over the last month.

The deployed CISF personnel will be stationed at entry and exit points of demarcated confidential areas within the new premises. Their duties include monitoring these areas, controlling access, and screening staff and visitors. Access-control and screening measures now include frisking with X-ray baggage screening machines and Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs). Other parts of the Government of India Press Building are already protected by the CISF, and the Home Ministry has approved CISF security cover for the entire NTA premises. A senior official stated, “Confidential areas have been demarcated in the building where the movement and operations will be strictly monitored to ensure that a foolproof system is in place. The Home Ministry has approved Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security cover for the premises.”

Digital Security Upgrades and Monitoring

Beyond physical security, the NTA’s new framework includes tighter monitoring of examination-critical technology systems. The agency is establishing strict access controls, encryption standards, immutable logging, and tamper-evident storage for all examination-critical workloads. An official noted, “Arrangements are being made in mission mode for establishing strict access controls, encryption standards, immutable logging and tamper-evident storage for all examination-critical workloads.”

The NTA is also reviewing the security of systems used throughout the examination cycle, encompassing candidate registration, fee payment, admit cards, computer-based testing, OMR processing, and result systems. Security readiness reviews of all examination-supporting systems will be conducted before each examination cycle. Coordination with the NTA’s technology and test-security functions will focus on the technical security of examination day workflows, including biometric authentication, face-matching, CCTV systems, and live monitoring infrastructure. Also, the NTA is preparing an examination-specific cyber-incident response system and plans to have enhanced security operations centre monitoring and rapid-response capabilities on examination days.

New Leadership and Audits for Information Security

To oversee information security, the NTA has designated a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). The position of general manager and CISO has been advertised, and the selection process is currently at an advanced stage. An official confirmed, “The position of general manager and CISO has been advertised, and the selection process is at an advanced stage.”

Independent third-party cyber-security audits by CERT-In and C-DAC empanelled agencies will continue to be undertaken. These audits are part of a broader strategy to ensure solid security protocols are in place for all NTA operations. These measures align with detailed recommendations for enhanced security controls for examination-critical systems made by a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan, following a similar NEET paper leak in 2024.

Context of Recent Paper Leaks and Reforms

The latest security enhancements at the National Testing Agency (NTA) directly follow the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, an incident that sparked nationwide student protests and led to the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Supreme Court reprimanded the NTA, stating that it had “not learnt its lessons” from past incidents. A CBI chargesheet into the 2026 leak identified three subject experts as primary sources of the leaked paper and highlighted significant security lapses at the NTA’s earlier office in Okhla, including the absence of checking or frisking for experts entering or exiting the confidential section.

These measures also build upon recommendations made by a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan, which was formed after a similar NEET paper leak in 2024. The committee had provided detailed recommendations for enhanced security controls for examination-critical systems. Following Pradhan’s resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the constitution of a high-powered task force, led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to recommend reforms aimed at making the exam system leakproof; this panel is yet to submit its report.

Further reading

• NEET UG 2026 Round 3 registration begins in Tamil Nadu: apply by September 30
• Ladakh MBBS/BDS 2026-27: Apply in 7 days with NEET ranking via NIC portal
• NEET application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• Ladakh Central Pool MBBS/BDS: Apply by Sep 10 for 2026-27 single merit list Applications open
• CUET application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• NEET: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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