New Delhi: The National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 following allegations of a large scale paper leak and serious irregularities that have triggered a nationwide controversy.
The decision came after preliminary verification reportedly found evidence supporting claims that portions of the question paper had been leaked before the examination. Fresh dates for the re examination are expected to be announced within the next seven to ten days, leaving more than 22 lakh medical aspirants across the country in uncertainty.
NTA Director General Abhishek Singh stated that investigators found similarities between questions circulating before the exam and the actual question paper used during the test. According to officials, the integrity and fairness of the examination process had been compromised, making cancellation unavoidable.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has now taken over the investigation and registered an FIR under multiple charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, theft, destruction of evidence, corruption and violations under the Public Examination Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024.
Investigators are currently examining a suspected leak route linked to a printing press in Nashik. According to probe agencies, a physical copy of the question paper may have been transported to a doctor in Gurugram before the examination. Earlier, the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group had claimed that a “guess paper” circulated ahead of the exam contained nearly 120 questions matching the actual paper.
The cancellation has sparked protests in several cities, with student organisations including the Students’ Federation of India and the National Students’ Union of India demanding accountability and reforms in the examination system. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is also expected to hold demonstrations in Delhi.
Political reactions have intensified as opposition leaders targeted the Central government over repeated examination controversies. Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP government of failing to protect students’ futures, while leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Asaduddin Owaisi, Manish Sisodia and Sachin Pilot demanded strict action against those responsible.
Several education experts and coaching institute heads have also called for urgent reforms to restore public confidence in the country’s competitive examination system.
