New Delhi: In a major decision affecting lakhs of medical aspirants across the country, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 following allegations that the examination paper had been leaked before the test was conducted on May 3.
The entrance examination, which is mandatory for admission to undergraduate medical courses across India, will now be conducted again on fresh dates to be announced separately by the agency.
The cancellation comes amid mounting controversy over the credibility of the examination process after reports emerged alleging that the NEET UG question paper had circulated a night before the examination.
In an official statement, the NTA said the decision was taken after reviewing inputs examined by the agency along with investigative findings shared by law enforcement authorities.
“On the basis of inputs subsequently examined by the National Testing Agency and investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies, the NTA, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3,” the agency stated.
The NTA said the decision was necessary to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence in the examination and evaluation system.
Officials further stated that the agency’s review concluded that the integrity of the examination process had been compromised to an extent where the results “could not be allowed to stand.”
The Centre has also ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the alleged paper leak and related irregularities.
According to the NTA, the matter has been formally handed over to the CBI for detailed investigation. The agency has assured full cooperation with investigators and stated that all relevant documents and records would be made available to the probe agency.
The development has triggered anxiety and uncertainty among lakhs of students and parents across the country, many of whom had spent months preparing for one of India’s most competitive entrance examinations.
NEET UG serves as the gateway for admissions to MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical programmes in government and private institutions nationwide.
The cancellation is expected to intensify political debate and public scrutiny over the functioning of national-level competitive examinations, particularly concerning examination security and leak prevention mechanisms.
This is among the biggest disruptions to the country’s medical entrance process in recent years and is likely to have wide administrative and academic implications in the coming months as authorities prepare for a fresh examination cycle.
