Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary chaired a high-level review meeting of the General Administration Department at Sankalp Sabhagar, Lok Sevak Avas on Friday, 5 June 2026, to assess the state's preparedness for the NEET 2026 examination scheduled for 21 June 2026. Officials were directed to ensure the exam is conducted in a fair, transparent, peaceful and malpractice-free manner across all centres in the state.

Context

Posting on X, CM Choudhary stated — 'निष्पक्ष, पारदर्शी, शांतिपूर्ण एवं कदाचारमुक्त संचालन' [fair, transparent, peaceful and malpractice-free conduct] — as the guiding principle for the examination. He added that the priority of the state government is to ensure that 'every candidate gets the opportunity to appear in the exam in a safe, organised and conducive environment.' The meeting reviewed logistical, security and administrative arrangements across all examination centres in Bihar.

Policy Backdrop

Bihar came under severe scrutiny in 2024 when the state was linked to one of the most significant NEET-UG paper leak incidents in recent memory, prompting CBI investigations, Supreme Court petitions and nationwide demands for systemic reform in examination conduct. The scandal severely dented confidence in the National Testing Agency (NTA), which has administered NEET as the single national gateway to undergraduate medical admissions since 2019. In the aftermath, multiple state governments — including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra — moved to strengthen state-level oversight of logistics, transport and security for national entrance tests, a pattern Bihar is now mirroring ahead of the 2026 cycle.

Stakeholders and Impact

The most direct beneficiaries of Friday's directives are Bihar's medical aspirants, who will now be able to travel to examination centres on all state government buses free of charge on the day of the exam. This measure is intended to remove a financial and logistical barrier for students, particularly those travelling from rural districts. Beyond transport, the CM's office directed reinforced security at every examination centre, tighter management of question-paper movement, dedicated traffic management protocols and round-the-clock surveillance to deter any attempt at malpractice.

The General Administration Department has been tasked with coordinating across state police, transport authorities and district administrations to operationalise these measures before 21 June. The scale of the exercise reflects both the administrative weight of NEET as a life-defining examination for hundreds of thousands of students and the political sensitivity the exam carries in Bihar following the 2024 controversy.

What's Next

In the weeks leading up to 21 June 2026, attention will focus on whether district-level security audits are completed, how bus deployment is coordinated with the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, and whether centre-wise surveillance infrastructure is in place. Any post-exam reports of irregularities — or the absence thereof — will be a critical indicator of whether the state's administrative overhaul has delivered results. A clean conduct of NEET 2026 in Bihar would mark a significant reputational recovery for the state after the 2024 paper-leak episode.