The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam after central agencies confirmed a paper leak. The question paper had been compromised, with questions available on some individuals' phones as early as May 1, two days before the exam.
The cancellation is the second time in two years that the NEET-UG has been under a cloud. The testing agency has handed the case to the CBI and said a retest will be scheduled soon.
NTA director general Abhishek Singh admitted institutional failure and vowed to end paper leaks immediately. The agency had blocked 120 Telegram channels selling fake papers but failed to prevent the breach.
A re-examination will be conducted, with the schedule to be announced within the next seven to 10 days. No additional fee will be charged, and fees from the first exam will be refunded.
Investigators have traced a multi-state network behind the leak, with 45 individuals involved. Thirteen persons have been detained, and the network's primary distribution node was identified as Rajasthan's Sikar, the country's second-largest coaching hub.
The cancellation has thrown the admission cycle for MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses into disarray, affecting over 2.2 million students.
Protests have erupted across the country, with students demanding the dissolution of the NTA. The agency's effort will be to conduct the re-exam in the shortest possible time to minimize disruption to the academic calendar.
