The Indian Air Force will use Mi-17 helicopters to transport NEET-UG 2026 question papers to 18 regional hubs across India [1].
This high-security operation follows the cancellation of the original NEET-UG 2026 exam due to allegations of paper leaks. The move aims to ensure the integrity of the re-examination and restore public trust in the medical entrance process.
According to official reports, the IAF will deploy the Mi-17 helicopters to deliver the materials to 18 Air Force Stations and regional hubs [1]. These locations will serve as secure staging points for a multi-layered security protocol before the papers are distributed to individual test centers [2].
The re-examination is scheduled for June 21, 2026 [2]. The decision to utilize military aviation for the transport of academic materials highlights the severity of the security failures that plagued the previous attempt. By bypassing traditional ground logistics, the government intends to minimize the number of touchpoints where papers could be intercepted or compromised [3].
This logistical effort occurs while the Central Board of Secondary Education faces a petition in the Delhi High Court regarding manual re-valuation. The board has also replaced its third-party vendor to further tighten administrative controls [3].
The IAF's involvement marks a significant escalation in the security measures for a national standardized test. The use of military assets is intended to provide a foolproof chain of custody from the printing press to the regional hubs [2].
“The Indian Air Force will use Mi-17 helicopters to transport NEET-UG 2026 question papers to 18 regional hubs across India.”
The deployment of military aircraft for an academic exam indicates a systemic crisis of confidence in India's civilian examination infrastructure. By treating question papers as high-value military assets, the government is attempting to eliminate human error and corruption in the logistics chain. This shift suggests that standard police and administrative safeguards were deemed insufficient to prevent the leaks that invalidated the previous exam cycle.
