NEET UG 2026 cancelled amid paper leak allegations; CBI inquiry ordered; Protests erupt in Delhi

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 following allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities, while the Union Government ordered a comprehensive inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The cancellation has affected more than 22 lakh candidates who appeared for the medical entrance examination at 5,432 centres across India and abroad under heightened security arrangements.
In an official statement issued on X, the NTA said the decision was taken in the interest of preserving transparency and public trust in the national examination system. The agency stated that inputs examined in coordination with central agencies, along with findings shared by law enforcement authorities, indicated that the examination process “could not be allowed to stand.”
The NTA announced that the examination would be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately. It also clarified that registration details, candidature and examination centres selected by candidates in the May 2026 cycle would be carried forward for the fresh examination. No new registration or additional fee would be required, while examination fees already paid by students would be refunded.
The agency further stated that the re-issued admit card schedule and revised examination dates would be communicated through official channels in the coming days. It added that the NTA would extend full cooperation to the CBI and provide all necessary records and materials required for the investigation.
The controversy erupted after allegations surfaced regarding a large-scale question paper leak linked to examination centres in Rajasthan. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), which had been entrusted with the preliminary inquiry, reportedly found that several aspirants in Sikar had received handwritten copies of questions carrying nearly 600 marks out of the total 720 marks before the examination.
According to the SOG, a 150-page “question bank” containing 410 questions from Physics, Chemistry and Biology had circulated among aspirants in Jaipur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu nearly a month before the examination. Investigators found that around 120 questions from the leaked material reportedly appeared verbatim in the NEET examination held on May 3.
The cancellation came despite extensive security measures claimed by the NTA before the examination. The agency had earlier stated that question papers were transported in GPS-enabled vehicles with unique watermark identifiers, while examination centres were monitored through AI-assisted CCTV surveillance from a central control room.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in New Delhi, where the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, staged a demonstration outside Shastri Bhawan demanding accountability over the alleged leak. Protesters carried placards criticising the government and alleging failure to safeguard the integrity of the examination process.
The latest controversy has revived memories of the NEET 2024 paper leak case, which was also investigated by the CBI after widespread protests and demands for a re-examination. During hearings related to the 2024 case, the Supreme Court had observed that at least 155 students had benefited from the leak, though it ruled out any systemic failure on the part of the NTA.
Reacting to the latest development, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) expressed serious concern over the alleged irregularities and demanded a fair and time-bound investigation. In a statement issued by ABVP Manipur State Office Secretary Abujam Yankeen Singh, the organisation said any compromise on transparency and fairness in national-level entrance examinations would amount to a grave injustice to students.
ABVP National General Secretary Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki called for stronger technical safeguards, stricter confidentiality measures and improved monitoring of examination centres, while ABVP Manipur State Secretary Gautam Philem demanded strict action against all individuals involved in malpractice to ensure justice for students.