The Indian government has put experts involved in setting the question paper for the national medical entrance examination under a lockdown in an unprecedented move to prevent leaks.

All those involved in preparing the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) question paper, moderating and translating it have been barred from communicating with anyone outside and from accessing phones and other electronic devices, the Times of India reported.

The government, particularly education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, have been facing mounting criticism after the entrance test was cancelled last month following the alleged leak of the question paper that affected 2.3 million aspiring doctors.

Following the cancellation, local media reported that several teenagers had died by suicide amid the uncertainty and distress caused by the controversy. An 18-year-old aspiring doctor allegedly died by suicide in her home in Madhya Pradesh state on 20 May after the first NEET test was cancelled.

Mr Pradhan said last month that the Narendra Modi government was taking extensive measures to conduct a rerun, scheduled for 21 June, including the use of Air Force aircraft to transport the exam material securely to avoid further leaks.

Those involved with setting the question paper have been moved to a "highly secured facility" and kept under round-the-lock supervision, according to the report. The experts would be kept under lockdown until 21 June, when the written re-examination would be conducted between 2pm and 5.15 pm.

Mobile phones, laptops, smartwatches, and other communication devices have been banned, while internet access and external communications have been tightly restricted. Entry to and exit from the facility are being closely monitored and recorded, with access limited to authorised personnel.

Government officials told the Times of India that the isolation of paper setters was the first layer of a multi-tier security framework to safeguard the examination process.

In the lead-up to the re-exam, social media posts claimed the new questions were available for sale, which the National Testing Agency rejected as fake and baseless.

Authorities told the newspaper they were conducting “round-the-clock monitoring of social media platforms, messaging apps and online forums to identify fake question papers, misinformation campaigns and suspicious activity”.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

f you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.