After the Rajasthan NEET paper leak controversy triggered nationwide concern among medical aspirants, the National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination held on 3 May 2026 and announced that the exam will be conducted again.
The decision came after the NTA examined inputs in coordination with central agencies and reviewed findings shared by law enforcement agencies. The agency said the material before it showed that the present examination process “could not be allowed to stand.”
The announcement follows NTA’s earlier press release dated 10 May 2026. According to the agency, it had referred the matters under consideration to central agencies on 8 May 2026 for independent verification and necessary action. NTA said the step was taken in line with its commitment to conducting national examinations in a fair, secure and credible manner.
The NTA said that, with the approval of the Government of India, it has decided to cancel the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026. The examination will now be conducted again on dates that will be notified separately.
The agency said the fresh NEET UG 2026 exam date and the re-issued admit card schedule will be communicated through its official channels in the coming days.
The decision affects lakhs of medical aspirants who appeared for NEET UG 2026, the national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses, including MBBS, BDS and other allied health programmes.
According to multiple reports, more than 22 lakh candidates appeared for this year’s examination, making it one of the largest undergraduate entrance examinations in the country.
In its announcement, the NTA said the decision was based on inputs examined by the agency in coordination with central agencies, along with investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies.
The agency said these findings established that the current examination process could not continue. It added that the move was necessary to ensure transparency in the system.
The NTA said the decision was taken in the interest of students and in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests.
The agency also confirmed that the matter has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged leak network and any interstate links connected to the case.
The NTA has clarified that candidates will not have to register again for the re-conducted NEET UG 2026 examination.
The agency said the registration data, candidature details and examination centres opted for during the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward to the re-exam.
No additional examination fee will be charged from candidates. The NTA also said that fees already paid by students will be refunded, and the re-examination will be conducted using the agency’s internal resources.
According to TOI, investigators in Rajasthan are probing a 410-question handwritten “guess paper” that was allegedly circulated before the examination. Officials said around 120 questions from that set reportedly matched the Chemistry section of the actual paper, prompting a wider investigation.
The investigation later expanded beyond Rajasthan, with agencies examining possible links in Uttarakhand and Maharashtra as part of what officials suspect may be an interstate leak network.
Student organisations also staged protests after the cancellation, including an SFI demonstration in Kerala where protesters breached barricades near the CAG office, as well as separate protests in New Delhi demanding accountability over the examination crisis.
The NTA’s decision to cancel NEET UG 2026 and conduct a fresh examination triggered sharp reactions from aspirants and social media users, many of whom questioned why students should bear the burden of alleged administrative failure. Several users expressed anger over the impact of paper leak allegations, exam cancellations and uncertainty on students’ mental health, preparation cycles and trust in the national examination system.
@Darshit2211_ wrote, “Lakhs of students sacrifice years for NEET, while NTA keeps failing to protect exam integrity.
Paper leaks and cancellations waste students’ time, damage mental health, and destroy trust in the system.
Students deserve accountability, not repeated negligence.”
Another user @akashyadav95690 wrote, “This isn’t your school exam
Even though my school exam paper never got leaked or any rumers of leak”
One of them called out NTA, @itsmepearl0820 wrote, “@narendramodi @NTA_Exams
Reconducting neet is mental torture and harassment for the students who have worked hard and given neet fairly.
FOR nta’s fault why should every1 be punished, cant play with students emotions otherwise NTA should be held accountable for every loss of life”
Raj Das, posting from @RajDas0009, wrote, “Couldn’t study this year due to many personal reasons as a result NEET 26 was not good for me. I somehow managed my parents to agree then for a drop year which was really a HELL! Now you guys, due to your own fault, I have to go through this again! NTA please don’t re-NEET, pls!”
The NEET UG 2026 cancellation has intensified concerns over exam integrity, student stress and accountability, as aspirants await fresh dates and a credible investigation into the alleged paper leak.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
