NEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Massive Paper Leak Shock; Fresh Dates to be Announced Separately

The National Testing Agency has officially cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 examination held on 3 May following allegations of a question paper leak and several irregularities reported from different parts of the country. The decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India, officials confirmed on 12 May. More than 24 lakh candidates had appeared for the examination this year, including thousands of students from the Barak Valley who were preparing for admission into medical colleges across India. Fresh dates for the re-examination will be announced separately by the NTA.

Investigations into the alleged leak have revealed links to multiple states. In Rajasthan’s Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts, the Special Operations Group reportedly found a “guess paper” containing around 120 questions that closely matched the Biology and Chemistry sections of the actual examination. The material was allegedly circulated through WhatsApp and Telegram nearly 42 hours before the exam. In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, police carried out arrests and searches linked to a suspected network accused of selling leaked content for amounts ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Similar reports have emerged from Latur in Maharashtra, where a coaching academy is under scrutiny over circulated “test-series” papers and videos. Investigators have also linked part of the leak trail to Kerala, involving an MBBS student originally from Rajasthan.

The Central Government has now handed over the matter to the CBI for a detailed investigation into the alleged “paper leak mafia” and the extent of the breach. The NTA has scrapped the results of all candidates and is expected to announce fresh examination dates and new admit cards soon on its official website. The Ministry of Education has also indicated that stricter security measures may be introduced for the re-conducted examination to prevent any repeat of such incidents. Students and parents have been advised to regularly check the official NTA portal for further updates regarding the revised schedule and examination guidelines.