New Delhi, May 12: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 across the country following allegations of irregularities and possible question paper leaks, triggering a nationwide re-examination process for lakhs of medical aspirants.
The decision came after the NTA reviewed inputs received from Central agencies and law enforcement authorities regarding alleged malpractice linked to the national medical entrance examination. The agency also confirmed that the Government of India has ordered a comprehensive inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the matter.
In an official statement issued on social media platform X, the NTA said the integrity of the examination process could not be maintained based on investigative findings and coordinated assessments conducted with Central agencies.
The agency stated that the matter had earlier been referred to Central authorities on May 8 for independent verification and necessary action. Following subsequent findings shared by investigative agencies, the NTA decided, with the approval of the Government of India, to cancel the examination entirely and conduct a fresh examination on dates to be announced separately.
The development marks a major setback for candidates and families who appeared for the examination on May 3, one of the country’s largest competitive entrance tests for undergraduate medical admissions.
The NTA maintained that the cancellation was necessary to preserve transparency and public confidence in the national examination system despite the inconvenience caused to students.
According to the agency, the re-conducted examination will be held without requiring fresh registration from candidates. Existing registration data, candidature details and examination centre preferences submitted during the May 2026 cycle will remain valid for the fresh examination process.
The agency also announced that no additional examination fee would be charged from candidates for the re-examination. Examination fees already paid by candidates will be refunded, while the re-conducted examination will be organised using the agency’s internal resources.
Further details regarding revised examination dates and reissued admit cards will be communicated through official channels in the coming days.
The NTA urged candidates and parents to rely only on official notifications and avoid unverified reports circulating on social media platforms.
The controversy surrounding the examination intensified after reports of a possible paper leak surfaced from Rajasthan following the May 3 examination. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) subsequently initiated an investigation into the allegations.
According to reports cited during the investigation, authorities recovered a handwritten suggestion paper in which nearly 120 questions allegedly matched the actual NEET-UG 2026 question paper. The alleged match reportedly included around 90 Biology questions and 30 Chemistry questions.
The NTA said the agency would fully cooperate with the CBI investigation and provide all records, documents and materials required during the inquiry process.
The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 is expected to significantly affect admission schedules for medical colleges across the country and has once again raised serious concerns over the security and credibility of large-scale national entrance examinations.
