Bengaluru: Thousands of medical aspirants who appeared for re-NEET across 68 exam centres in Bengaluru Sunday experienced a day marked by chaos, anxiety, and contrasting emotions, with several candidates complaining that a difficult Physics paper had upset their expectations.By 11.30am, RC College on Race Course Road was among the busiest centres. Parents gathered outside alleged that a Congress rally, involving 100-150 workers, passing through the area had delayed some students, although the claim could not be independently verified.Congestion caused by haphazard parking by parents also contributed to traffic snarls. At another centre, an aspirant is said to have missed entry after submitting the wrong hall ticket.Day of nervous waitingOutside centres, parents waited anxiously while students battled a second round of stress after the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test was held for the second time.At Hasanath College on Dickenson Road, candidates streamed out around 5pm with sharply differing reactions. One girl broke down in tears and embraced her mother, while groups of students immediately began dissecting the question paper. Some parents appeared pessimistic even before their children emerged.“In the earlier exam, he had prepared well and had performed well too. I honestly don’t know much about this time. He himself wasn’t interested in writing it again,” said Subramani D, who had come to pick up his son from Konanakunte Cross.Physics sparks concernMany students agreed that Physics was the deal-breaker. Sutej, an aspirant, said his confidence had fallen considerably since his first attempt. “The overall paper was better than 2025, but Physics was tougher than both the 2025 and May 2026 exams,” he said.Maria Loorthu from Indiranagar, however, viewed the re-exam as an opportunity. “Botany and Zoology were easy. There were no indirect questions and Chemistry was better than the previous time. I didn’t focus much on Physics. For me, re-NEET was a second chance and I prepared well for it,” she said.Sreedhar G, founder of Deeksha, said the numerically intensive Physics paper threw students off. “Physics was numerically intense — students struggled to finish the paper. Biology was easy and doable, with 9-10 tricky questions. Chemistry was moderately tough, but Physics threw everyone off,” he said. According to him, while students felt relief that the exam was over, many were left disappointed by how tough it had been.Top scorers fear a slideFor candidates who had already secured strong marks in the original exam, the repeat test brought more apprehension than hope.Sagar SG, who scored 670 previously, is afraid of a substantial drop. “I’m now scared of getting even 620. I came to Bengaluru from Shivamogga to prepare for NEET. It feels like three years of preparation have gone in vain. I think I may lose around 30 marks,” he said.According to Muniswamy, a NEET analyst and parent of an aspirant, the Physics paper was significantly more demanding than in previous years. “Barely four or five students may score a perfect 720 this time. Physics was almost at the level of JEE. Biology was easy but lengthy, which ate into the time available for Chemistry and Physics,” he said.War of words over rally trafficBangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya alleged that Congress chose to hold its rally on the day of Re-NEET, causing traffic snarls that left some students reaching exam centres in panic and seeking special accommodation. He accused the party of showing “political theatrics” instead of sensitivity towards students.Hitting back, home minister Priyank Kharge termed the charge “misinformation” and said 720 students were allotted RC College, of whom 142 were absent. Only three candidates missed the exam: one from Magadi who could not get a bus, one who brought an old hall ticket and one from RT Nagar, whose reason for missing the test is being ascertained.“The BJP MP, who is overflowing with concern for students missing exams for different reasons, was conveniently silent when his own incompetent govt allowed more than 22 lakh students to suffer due to NEET mismanagement, paper leaks and chaos, with over 10 students reportedly dying by suicide. By his own logic, if a student missing exams today must be blamed on Congress’ rally, then Modi and Dharmendra Pradhan [Union education minister] must be held directly responsible for the paper leaks, student distress and deaths and must be thrown out of office,” Kharge said.
