The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3, affecting more than 22 lakh candidates following serious allegations of a question paper leak and widespread irregularities. The agency emphasised that the move was necessary to uphold transparency and maintain the integrity of India’s premier entrance test for undergraduate medical seats.
The scandal has rapidly grown into a major national concern, prompting the handover of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough probe. Authorities are examining the leak, the distribution of a so-called “guess paper,” and the broader network suspected of orchestrating the malpractice across several states.
NTA officials have indicated that fresh dates for the re-examination, along with new admit cards, will be notified separately in due course. Candidates will not need to submit fresh applications, and the examination fees already paid will be refunded.
Reports suggest the leaked material, which closely mirrored sections of the actual paper — including around 120 Chemistry questions and notable similarities in Biology — had reportedly been circulating in coaching centres in Sikar, Rajasthan, nearly a month before the exam. It was allegedly sold to aspirants for sums as high as Rs 7.3 lakh.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
Rajasthan’s Special Operations Group conducted raids and questioned multiple individuals linked to the alleged leak, as reported by NDTV. The purported mastermind, Manish Yadav, has been detained in Jaipur, with the investigation spanning three states.
Separately, the CBI has taken Shubham Khairnar, a 30-year-old resident of Nandgaon in Maharashtra’s Nashik, into custody. He was apprehended from the Indiranagar area of the city, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Kirankumar Chauhan.
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Student Anxiety Mounts
The cancellation has left lakhs of aspirants in a state of uncertainty as they await the revised schedule. Many had dedicated years to preparation, only to face disruption at a critical juncture. Several students have voiced disappointment over both the cancellation and the lack of immediate clarity on new dates.
In an interview, first-time aspirant Sudhanshu, who appeared at a centre in Palamu, Jharkhand, after preparing in Patna for two years, expressed hope of scoring above 650 marks before the exam was nullified.
With the CBI investigation progressing, over 22 lakh candidates continue to watch closely for official announcements regarding the re-examination. The NTA maintains that restoring fairness remains its top priority in this high-stakes process.
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