Education Crisis – NEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Alleged Exam Leak Row
Education Crisis – The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 following serious allegations related to a question paper leak and other examination irregularities. The decision, announced on Tuesday, has affected more than 22 lakh students who appeared for the country’s largest medical entrance test across thousands of centres in India and abroad.
The Union Government has also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out a detailed inquiry into the matter. Officials said the move was necessary to safeguard the integrity of the national examination system and restore confidence among students and parents.
NTA Announces Fresh Examination
In an official statement released through its social media platform, the NTA confirmed that the examination would be conducted again on dates that will be announced separately. According to the agency, the decision was made after reviewing information shared by central agencies and law enforcement authorities investigating the allegations.
The agency stated that the available evidence and findings indicated that the current examination process could not be considered reliable. As a result, authorities decided to cancel the entire examination despite extensive security arrangements that had been implemented during the test.
Officials added that revised examination dates and updated admit card schedules would soon be issued through official communication channels.
CBI Asked to Conduct Comprehensive Probe
The Central Bureau of Investigation will now examine all allegations linked to the examination process. The NTA said it would cooperate fully with investigators by providing documents, records, and any additional assistance required during the inquiry.
Government officials described the decision as an effort to protect students’ interests and maintain trust in competitive examinations conducted at the national level. The development has, however, caused anxiety among lakhs of aspirants preparing for medical admissions this year.
Existing Registrations to Remain Valid
The NTA clarified that students who had already registered for the May 2026 examination would not be required to apply again. Existing registration details, candidature records, and selected examination centres will remain valid for the fresh test.
The agency also confirmed that no additional examination fee would be charged for the re-examination. Fees already deposited by candidates will be refunded, while the fresh examination will be organised using the agency’s internal resources.
Candidates and parents have been advised to rely only on official notifications released by the NTA regarding future examination schedules and other updates.
Security Measures Failed to Prevent Leak Allegations
The NEET UG examination was conducted on May 3 at 5,432 centres with heightened security measures. Earlier this week, the NTA had highlighted several steps taken to ensure transparency, including GPS-enabled transportation of question papers and AI-assisted CCTV monitoring from a central control room.
Despite these arrangements, allegations of paper leaks emerged from Rajasthan, particularly from the Sikar region. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), which was assigned to investigate the complaints, reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting that several aspirants had access to handwritten copies of questions before the examination.
Investigators claimed that a 150-page question compilation circulated among students in Jaipur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu nearly one month before the test. Officials further stated that around 120 questions from the document reportedly appeared exactly in the final examination paper.
Previous Controversies Add to Concerns
The latest controversy has revived memories of similar allegations linked to the NEET examination conducted in 2024. That examination also faced criticism after reports of a paper leak surfaced, leading to demands for a retest from students and opposition parties.
At that time, the matter was investigated by the CBI, while the Supreme Court heard petitions seeking cancellation of the examination. During the hearings, the court observed that at least 155 students had benefited from the leak. However, the court did not find evidence of a complete systemic failure in the conduct of the examination.
The cancellation of NEET UG 2026 is now expected to delay the medical admission process across the country, while students await fresh examination dates and further instructions from authorities.