NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: The Crisis Explained

On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the National Testing Agency (NTA) took the unprecedented step of cancelling the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3. The decision comes after a week of intense scrutiny, protests, and a deepening investigation by Rajasthan’s Special Operations Group (SOG) into alleged paper leaks and widespread malpractice.

The Anatomy of the Leak

The cancellation was triggered by reports of a “guess paper” that began circulating via WhatsApp and coaching networks in Sikar and Churu (Rajasthan):

• The Match: Investigation revealed that nearly 120 questions in the leaked document—including 90 in Biology and 30 in Chemistry—were identical or significantly similar to the actual May 3 paper.

• The Price of Fraud: Reports suggest the leaked material was sold for sums as high as ₹5 lakh to ₹30,000 in the days leading up to the exam.

• The Mastermind: Law enforcement has already arrested a suspect in Jaipur, with the probe now expanding into a multi-state network involving medical college students.

The NTA & Government Action Plan

In an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), the NTA clarified that the existing process “could not be allowed to stand” in the interest of transparency.

• CBI Inquiry: The Union Government has officially handed the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive probe.

• Re-Exam Dates: While fresh dates are yet to be announced, the NTA has promised that the schedule and revised admit cards will be released “very soon” on official channels.

• Registration Status:

  • No Fresh Registration: Registration data and chosen exam centers will be carried forward.

  • No New Fees: Students do not need to pay again. In a rare move, the NTA announced that fees already paid will be refunded, and the re-exam will be funded using the agency’s internal resources

A Legacy of Disruption

This is the second major blow to the NEET-UG system in three years, following the massive 2024 scandal. Despite the deployment of GPS-tracked vehicles, AI-assisted CCTV, and 5G jammers, the leak has raised serious questions about the vulnerability of pen-and-paper examinations at this scale.