The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam on Tuesday after paper leak reports surfaced. Authorities held the exam on May 3 for undergraduate medical admissions across the country. Law enforcement agencies shared information that raised serious doubts about the exam process. The agency said it could not continue with the current examination after receiving those findings. Officials also confirmed that students will take the exam again on new dates soon. The agency said it will announce the fresh examination schedule in the coming days.
Around 22 lakh students appeared for NEET UG 2026 across many centres in India. The huge number made NEET UG one of the country’s biggest entrance examinations.
Tuesday’s announcement came after fresh developments emerged from Rajasthan in the paper leak case. The state police’s Special Operations Group investigated claims about a leaked NEET-UG question paper. Officials suspected that some people shared the paper before the May 3 examination.
The SOG investigation revealed important details during the last two days of the probe. Investigators found handwritten questions inside a so-called “guess paper” shared before the exam. Officials discovered that many questions closely matched the actual NEET-UG examination paper. Around 140 questions carried nearly 600 marks from the total 720 marks. Those questions appeared in handwritten papers circulated two or three days before the exam.
On Sunday, the NTA confirmed that Rajasthan Police had started a probe into NEET-UG 2026 irregularities. The agency said it had received reports about possible malpractice after the examination ended. NTA officials also informed the concerned law enforcement agencies about those suspicious activities.
On Tuesday, the NTA cancelled the entire examination just two days after that statement. Officials took the decision after fresh concerns emerged during the ongoing investigation.
WHY NEET-UG 2026 WAS CANCELLED
The National Testing Agency took the decision after reviewing reports from law enforcement agencies. Those reports suggested that some people may have compromised the examination process. The NTA said the exam could not continue after officials reviewed all available evidence. The agency also said the cancellation would protect transparency and public trust in the testing system.
45 Detained as CBI Probes NEET Paper Leak
The Government of India transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a detailed inquiry. Officials want the agency to examine every part of the alleged paper leak case.
The agency will investigate how the alleged “guess paper” spread before the examination began. Officials will also examine whether organised malpractice played a role in the entire case. The NTA said it will support the investigation by sharing all important records and data. The agency also promised to provide every material needed during the ongoing probe.
Police in Rajasthan have detained more than 45 people during the NEET paper leak investigation. Early findings suggest that the leaked “guess paper” may have come from a printing press. Those reports have raised serious concerns about possible security failures inside the system.
Sources said some people circulated a handwritten version of the question paper before the exam. Those details suggest that the leak may have happened during the printing process.
What NTA Said About the NEET UG Re-Exam
The NTA confirmed that students will take NEET UG 2026 again on fresh examination dates. Officials said they will announce the new schedule soon through official communication channels. The agency admitted that the re-exam may create problems for students and families. However, officials said continuing with a compromised examination would damage public trust even more
What Students Should Do After NEET-UG 2026 Cancellation
Students should follow only official updates released by the NTA through trusted platforms and notices. They should also avoid false claims and misleading information spreading across social media platforms. Since officials may announce fresh dates soon, students should continue preparing for the examination. Candidates may also need to adjust their study plans and remain fully ready for the re-exam.
