IAF's Mi-17 Helicopters Carry Out More Than 200 Sorties Ferrying Sealed Question Papers For NEET-UG Re-Test

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has carried out more than 200 sorties in the last few days, ferrying sealed question papers to 18 designated zones across the country for the NEET-UG re-test, reported Times of India.

The Mi-17 helicopters of the IAF have been tasked to deliver the sealed question papers to ensure secure and timely dispatch to hubs across the country. Later, the question papers will be transported from these hubs to different exam centres under tight security.

“The use of IAF aircraft is aimed at guaranteeing foolproof, time-bound delivery,” TOI quoted an official as saying.

The transportation of question papers started on June 16 and will continue through June 17. On Tuesday (June 17) the question papers were delivered to several northern states while dry runs were conducted at selected locations in southern India to test security and logistics arrangements, reported The Hindu.

Personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel have also been deployed to secure the transportation chain at every stage, with the Union Defence Ministry, Home Ministry, Postal Department, and respective state governments also coordinating under a framework overseen by the Ministry of Education.

The NEET-UG test was cancelled last month after widespread allegations of paper leaks, sparking outrage and a protest movement which has been demanding the resignation of the education minister.

Earlier the Union government had also temporarily blocked the Telegram app ahead of the re-test scheduled on June 21 in a purported effort to curb paper leaks through the app, a press release by the National Testing Agency (NTA) had announced.

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