After NEET-UG Paper Leak, NTA Floats Rs 7.5 Crore Security Tender to Fortify Exam System

Seeking to restore confidence in the country's examination system after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has floated a Rs 7.5 crore tender to strengthen security at its headquarters, regional offices, storage facilities and other key locations handling confidential examination-related work.

According to the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued on July 25, the contract is valued at Rs 7.5 crore plus GST for an initial period of two years, with the option to extend it by two additional one-year terms based on satisfactory performance and approval by the competent authority. Bids for the security contract can be submitted until August 17, while the related printing-services tender will close on August 20.

The security upgrade is aimed at protecting NTA personnel, visitors, confidential examination records, server rooms, strong rooms, digital storage media and other critical infrastructure. The selected agency will be responsible for 24x7 security, including access control, CCTV monitoring, visitor management, patrolling, fire and emergency response, incident reporting and safeguarding sensitive examination materials.

To qualify, bidders must have at least five years of experience in providing professional security services and an average annual turnover of Rs 10 crore during the last three financial years. They should also have experience securing Central government departments, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings, examination agencies, universities, airports, hospitals, metro rail systems or similar high-security establishments.

The agency will deploy professionally trained, police-verified and experienced personnel, including 40 unarmed male guards, 10 female guards and two security supervisors. The NTA has reserved the right to increase or reduce manpower by up to 50 per cent depending on operational requirements.

Security personnel will be prohibited from accessing, copying, photographing or disclosing any confidential information encountered during duty. During examinations, additional staff must be deployed for crowd management, queue regulation and the secure movement of confidential materials.

The tender comes just months after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak triggered nationwide concern over the integrity of India's largest medical entrance examination. By tightening security around its offices and examination infrastructure, the NTA aims to strengthen safeguards for confidential records and rebuild public trust in the conduct of high-stakes national entrance tests.