The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the NEET‑UG 2026 exam duration by 15 minutes and introduced layout changes aimed at easing exam‑day procedures for candidates. The re‑exam on June 21 will now run for 195 minutes — from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm — the agency said in a public notice on June 12.

The adjusted timing accommodates mandatory pre‑exam formalities such as attendance signing and invigilation checks, NTA officials said, adding that the change is intended to protect candidates’ actual writing time from being consumed by administrative procedures. The move follows feedback from students and is part of a package of candidate‑friendly measures introduced ahead of the re‑examination.

One visible change: the number of rough‑work pages has doubled. Candidates will receive four rough‑work pages in the question‑paper booklet instead of two. The NTA said the extra space will help students perform calculations, draw diagrams and prepare working notes more comfortably during the high‑stakes test.

The agency has also revised the booklet layout to assist left‑handed students. Two rough‑work pages will now appear immediately after the instruction page, while the remaining two will be at the end of the booklet — a departure from the earlier format where all rough pages were placed at the back. NTA said the layout change will be implemented across English and regional language papers.

“These are small but meaningful changes aimed at improving the examination experience,” the notice said, noting that the updates were made after reviewing feedback and operational considerations. NTA asserted that the measures do not compromise security or fairness and urged candidates to follow instructions on the admit card and information bulletin.

The timing revision also aligns with recent security measures around NEET‑UG 2026. Following last month’s cancellation of the exam due to alleged paper leaks, authorities tightened controls, including a temporary restriction on Telegram during the re‑exam period and enhanced cybercrime probes into channels allegedly trading in exam material.

Candidates and coaching groups welcomed the extra writing time and additional rough pages, calling them practical changes that could reduce last‑minute scramble. “Fifteen minutes more and extra space for rough work will help many students manage calculations without losing time,” said a NEET aspirant, requesting anonymity.

Examination managers said logistics will be adjusted accordingly: exam centres will stagger entry and invigilation procedures within the extended window to ensure orderly conduct. Centres must also brief staff and invigilators on the new booklet format and distribution protocol, the NTA notice added.

Experts in assessment design said such small administrative improvements can make a difference in candidates’ performance, especially in a long, high‑pressure test. But they cautioned that operational discipline at exam centres remains critical; extended time will be beneficial only if all centres uniformly implement the timing and layout changes.

NTA reiterated that students should rely only on official channels — the NEET portal and NTA’s verified handles — for updates, and cooperate with centre staff to ensure smooth conduct. The agency also reminded candidates to reach out to helplines listed in their admit cards for any last‑minute clarifications.

With the re‑exam scheduled for June 21, NTA said it will continue issuing advisories and operational instructions to centres in the coming days to ensure the changes are implemented uniformly across the country.