Patna: A day ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday conducted multi-agency mock drills at all 95 examination centres across Patna, including Miller High School and the Bapu Pariksha Parishar, to test CCTV surveillance systems, signal jammers and security protocols.
Patna district magistrate Kundan Kumar reviewed the arrangements and directed officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination. The additional district magistrate (law and order) said 95 examination centres have been set up in Patna district for more than 45,000 candidates. The Bapu Pariksha Parishar, one of the largest centres in the state, will host over 7,500 candidates.
Across Bihar, the examination will be conducted at 331 centres in 35 cities across 34 districts, with more than 1.56 lakh candidates expected to appear.
To ensure a malpractice-free examination, the district administration has deployed over 100 static magistrates and constituted 29 flying squads. A separate mock drill involving officials assigned to examination duty was also conducted on Saturday to familiarise personnel with protocols and contingency measures.
Officials said the exercise replicated examination-day conditions. CCTV surveillance systems, real-time monitoring mechanisms and signal jammers were tested, while arrangements for the secure transportation and handling of question papers were reviewed. Patna City ASP Raj Kishore Singh said security and administrative agencies had been conducting preparedness exercises since Saturday morning and that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure the examination is conducted in a fair manner. Security personnel and administrative teams have been deployed across centres to oversee arrangements.
The NTA, in coordination with police, the district administration and other central agencies, has put in place a multi-layered security framework for the re-examination. Measures include surveillance of examination centres, frisking protocols, deployment of magistrates and police personnel, and monitoring of question paper movement.
Instructions have been issued for immediate action, including preventive arrests, against those spreading rumours on social media, while coaching institutes under suspicion will remain under strict surveillance. District administrations have also been directed to arrange shaded waiting areas for parents beyond a 100-metre radius of examination centres. Drinking water and ‘sattu’ will be provided in coordination with local NGOs, while ORS packets and mobile medical units will be available at all centres.
