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NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) connected Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 introspection held connected May 3 and announced that the aesculapian entranceway trial volition beryllium conducted again connected caller dates to beryllium notified separately.
This comes aft allegations of a large-scale “guess paper” leak pushed the exam into a nationwide controversy.The authorities has besides ordered a broad Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities surrounding the examination, which was attended by astir 22.79 lakh students crossed India and abroad.In a statement, the NTA said the determination was taken “in the involvement of students” and to support nationalist spot successful the nationalist introspection system.“On the ground of inputs subsequently examined by NTA successful coordination with cardinal agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the instrumentality enforcement agencies, the National Testing Agency, with the support of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 introspection conducted connected 3 May 2026, and to re-conduct the introspection connected dates that volition beryllium notified separately,” the bureau said.The determination comes days aft investigators uncovered grounds suggesting that a question acceptable described by officials arsenic a “guess paper” had circulated among aspirants weeks earlier the exam and allegedly contained a ample fig of questions that intimately matched the existent NEET paper.
How the contention unfolded
The contention began aft inputs regarding suspected malpractice emerged from Rajasthan and Uttarakhand pursuing the May 3 examination.According to investigators, a papers containing astir 410 questions had been circulating among students betwixt 15 days and 1 period earlier the exam. Officials said astir 120 questions from the Chemistry conception allegedly matched the existent introspection insubstantial exactly.Authorities besides claimed that the worldly had been shared done WhatsApp groups arsenic small arsenic 42 hours earlier the exam.The Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), which is starring the archetypal investigation, launched a probe aft reports surfaced that the circulated worldly showed “striking similarities” to questions asked successful the examination.SOG Additional Director General Vishal Bansal said investigators were examining whether the worldly was simply a trial bid oregon portion of a larger organised cheating racket.“Our probe is presently focused connected determining whether immoderate cheating oregon transgression enactment has occurred based connected this conjecture paper,” Bansal said.“We are actively examining this substance and are presently engaged successful the investigative process. No, arsenic of now, we person not made immoderate arrests of immoderate kind,” helium added.Officials said searches and questioning were conducted successful aggregate locations, including Rajasthan’s coaching hub Sikar and Dehradun successful Uttarakhand.Investigators are besides examining videos and question sets linked to a coaching institute successful Latur, Maharashtra, though section constabulary said nary ceremonial probe had begun determination yet.
NTA cites instrumentality enforcement findings
The NTA said it initially escalated suspicious inputs to cardinal agencies connected May 8 for autarkic verification.“In continuation of its property merchandise dated 10 May 2026, the National Testing Agency wishes to pass candidates, parents, and members of the nationalist of the pursuing decisions taken successful respect of NEET (UG) 2026,” the bureau said.“NTA had, connected 8 May 2026, referred the matters past nether information to the cardinal agencies for autarkic verification and indispensable action, accordant with its lasting committedness to the fair, secure, and credible behaviour of the nationalist examinations entrusted to it.”The bureau said the findings received from investigating agencies made it intolerable to let the existing introspection process to continue.“The inputs received by NTA, taken unneurotic with the findings shared by the instrumentality enforcement agencies, established that the contiguous introspection process could not beryllium allowed to stand,” the connection said.The NTA added that portion the cancellation would origin “real and important inconvenience” to students and families, preserving the integrity of the introspection strategy was much important.“This determination has been taken successful the involvement of students and successful designation of the spot connected which the nationalist introspection strategy rests,” it said.“The Agency is conscious that re-conduct volition origin existent and important inconvenience to candidates and their families. NTA does not instrumentality that effect lightly. The determination has been taken due to the fact that the alternate would person caused greater and much lasting harm to that trust.”
What happens next?
The NTA said the NEET-UG 2026 introspection volition present beryllium conducted again utilizing the agency’s interior resources.Fresh dates for the re-examination and revised admit cards volition beryllium announced separately done authoritative channels.The bureau clarified that students volition not person to registry again for the examination.“The registration data, candidature, and introspection centres opted for successful the May 2026 rhythm volition beryllium carried guardant to the re-conducted examination. No caller registration volition beryllium required, and nary further introspection interest volition beryllium levied,” the connection said.The NTA besides announced that fees already paid by candidates would beryllium refunded.Further details, including the revised introspection docket and admit paper merchandise dates, volition beryllium communicated later.Candidates and parents person been advised to trust lone connected authoritative announcements and disregard unverified claims circulating connected societal media.The bureau besides released a helpline for students:neet-ug@nta.ac.in | 011-40759000 / 011-69227700
CBI probe ordered
Alongside the cancellation, the Centre has referred the substance to the CBI for a full-scale investigation.“The Government of India has further decided to notation the substance to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a broad enquiry into the allegations therein,” the NTA said.“NTA volition widen afloat practice to the Bureau and volition supply each materials, records, and assistance the enquiry requires.”The probe is expected to analyse whether organised networks were progressive successful circulating leaked worldly earlier the introspection and whether immoderate officials, coaching centres oregon intermediaries played a role.Security measures nether scrutinyThe contention has besides enactment the NTA’s introspection information strategy nether aggravated scrutiny.Earlier, the bureau had defended the behaviour of the May 3 exam, saying it was carried retired nether “full information protocol” crossed centres.According to the NTA, question papers were transported successful GPS-tracked vehicles carrying unsocial watermark identifiers.Examination centres were monitored done AI-assisted CCTV systems connected to a cardinal power room.
Biometric verification was utilized for candidates and 5G jammers were deployed astatine centres to forestall physics malpractice.“The introspection connected May 3, 2026 was conducted arsenic scheduled and nether a afloat information protocol,” the NTA had said earlier.Despite these measures, investigators are present examining however a question acceptable with alleged overlaps reached students earlier the examination.
Political reactions and protests
The cancellation sparked protests by pupil groups and triggered governmental attacks connected the government.
Workers of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged protests extracurricular Shastri Bhavan successful Delhi aft the cancellation announcement.Leader of absorption Rahul Gandhi had earlier criticised the alleged insubstantial leak, calling NEET an “auction”.“I heard the quality astir the NEET 2026 insubstantial leak. It's not an exam anymore--NEET is present an auction. Many questions were being sold connected WhatsApp 42 hours earlier the exam,” Gandhi wrote connected X.“Over 22 lakh children studied done sleepless nights each year, burning the midnight oil, and successful 1 night, their aboriginal was openly auctioned disconnected successful the marketplace.”“This isn't the archetypal time. In 10 years, 89 insubstantial leaks--48 re-exams. Every time, the aforesaid promises, and past the aforesaid silence,” helium added.
