Re-exam announced, CBI launches probe, mastermind arrested, no new registration, fee
Aatif Qayoom
Srinagar, May 12: National Testing Agency (NTA), with the approval of the Government of India, on Tuesday cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026, conducted on May 3, following serious allegations of a paper leak and irregularities in the examination process.
The decision came after mounting outrage among students, parents, and education groups over claims that portions of the question paper had been leaked before the examination. The NTA said the integrity of the examination process had been compromised, and allowing the results to stand would damage public trust in the national testing system.
According to the official statement issued by the NTA, the agency had first referred the matter to central agencies on May 8 for independent verification and investigation. Based on the inputs received later and findings shared by law enforcement agencies, the government decided that the examination would be cancelled and reconducted on fresh dates to be announced separately.
The NTA said the re-examination schedule and fresh admit card dates will soon be notified through official channels.
The agency clarified that all registration data, candidature details, and examination centres chosen by candidates during the May 2026 cycle will remain valid for the fresh examination. Students will not have to register again, and no additional examination fee will be charged. The fees already paid by candidates will also be refunded, while the reconducted examination will be organised using the agency’s internal resources.
NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said the agency first received information on the night of May 7 that certain questions circulating on WhatsApp matched those asked in the NEET-UG examination.
“It was our responsibility to verify the claims thoroughly and act immediately once irregularities became evident,” Singh said while addressing the media. He assured students that the re-examination would be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
Officials from the Ministry of Education stated that the government acted without delay once indications of malpractice surfaced. They described the cancellation and subsequent investigation as part of the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and examination fraud.
Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar, confirmed that the government had decided to reconduct the examination and that the NTA would soon announce revised dates.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR into the alleged paper leak case. Investigation agencies claimed the leaked question paper was allegedly sold for as much as Rs 5 lakh two days before the examination. Sources associated with the probe said the price later dropped to nearly Rs 30,000 a day before the test.
The investigation intensified further after the arrest of an alleged mastermind in Jaipur. Officials believe the suspect played a key role in circulating leaked examination material through organised networks operating across states.
The NTA, in its statement, acknowledged the hardship caused to candidates and their families due to the cancellation. However, it said the decision was necessary to preserve the credibility and fairness of one of India’s largest entrance examinations.
“Re-conduct will cause real inconvenience to students and parents. But the alternative would have caused far greater and lasting damage to trust in the examination system,” the agency said.
The NTA urged students and parents to rely only on official announcements and avoid misinformation circulating on social media platforms.
NEET-UG is the country’s largest medical entrance examination and serves as the gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other undergraduate medical courses across India. The cancellation marks one of the most significant actions taken in recent years regarding allegations of examination malpractice.