13 May,2026 12:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Students outside a NEET centre in Bandra. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The NEET-UG 2026 exam, held on May 3 for over 24 lakh students, has been cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after allegations of a large-scale paper leak linked to a circulated "guess paper."
The decision was taken after inputs from multiple states, especially Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, along with findings shared by law enforcement agencies, raised concerns that the integrity of the examination had been compromised beyond repair.
The NEET-UG 2026 exam was conducted on May 3 across India and select international centres for more than 24 lakh candidates.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is India's largest and the only national-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate medical, dental (BDS) and AYUSH courses. Conducted annually by the National Testing Agency (NTA), it serves as a single gateway for admission to both government and private medical colleges.
NEET ensures a uniform, merit-based selection process across the country, helping maintain standards in medical education while giving all students an equal opportunity to compete for seats in recognised institutions.
The NTA had deployed multiple security measures, including biometric verification, AI-enabled CCTV surveillance, GPS-tracked transportation of question papers and technical restrictions such as 5G jammers at exam centres. At the time of the exam, officials stated that the process had gone smoothly without any disruptions.
The NTA said the NEET-UG 2026 exam was cancelled after reviewing inputs from central agencies and law enforcement, which indicated credible irregularities and raised concerns over fairness and transparency.
It confirmed that the exam will be reconducted on new dates to be announced later. Students will not need to reapply, as their existing registrations remain valid, and fresh admit cards will be issued for the re-exam. The agency also announced a full refund of exam fees and said it will bear the cost of conducting the re-examination, urging candidates to follow only official updates.
Within a few days, complaints and intelligence inputs began emerging from several states suggesting that parts of the question paper may have been accessed before the exam. These reports triggered a deeper investigation into possible irregularities. The move to finally cancel papers was taken due to:
-Circulation of a "guess paper" before the exam
-Significant overlap between leaked questions and actual paper
-Possible organised multi-state network behind the leak
-Loss of confidence in exam security and fairness
Authorities said the exam integrity "could no longer be guaranteed," as per agencies.
The cancellation was largely driven by what investigators described as a "guess paper" scandal. According to Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG), a document containing more than 400 questions began circulating before the exam, allegedly through coaching centres, PG accommodations and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Officials claimed that nearly 100 to 140 questions from this material matched the actual NEET-UG 2026 paper, with some reports suggesting an overlap of around 25 percent.
The alleged leak was said to have originated in Rajasthan's Sikar region and later spread to Jhunjhunu, Churu and other districts through a network involving intermediaries and students. Investigators also found indications that coaching-linked groups and local operators played a role in further distribution, reported agencies.
Authorities arrested around 15 individuals during early investigations, and several coaching centres came under scrutiny as part of a broader probe into how the material circulated so widely before the examination.
The controversy is believed to have started just before the exam.
-On May 1, the alleged "guess paper" reportedly began circulating among students in parts of Rajasthan.
-Two days later, on May 3, the NEET-UG 2026 exam was conducted nationwide under strict monitoring arrangements.
-By May 7, the NTA received initial suspicious inputs regarding possible pre-circulation of questions.
-May 8, the matter was escalated to central agencies after preliminary verification suggested possible irregularities. Around the same time, the Rajasthan SOG launched raids and investigations in multiple districts, collecting electronic evidence and questioning several suspects.
As the probe progressed, authorities concluded that the scale of suspected compromise was serious enough to question the credibility of the entire examination process.
Given the nationwide scale and seriousness of the allegations, the case was officially handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agency has registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, theft and destruction of evidence.
Charges under the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act have also been added, reported IANS.
The Rajasthan SOG has already shared case documents, digital evidence and details of arrests with the CBI, which is now expected to investigate the entire chain of events, including how the alleged "guess paper" was created, circulated and accessed by students.
Officials said the investigation is no longer limited to one region, as links have been found stretching across several states, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. So far, around 16 individuals are reported to be in custody, while more arrests are expected as the probe progresses.
In Maharashtra, two individuals were taken into custody from the Indiranagar area. One of them is reportedly a 30-year-old Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) student who had been studying outside the state. In another action, Nashik City Police detained a suspect based on inputs shared by state authorities and central agencies.
With the cancellation in place, the focus now shifts to the upcoming re-examination and the ongoing CBI investigation. While new dates have not yet been announced, the NTA is expected to issue a revised schedule after consultations with stakeholders.
Until then, students are left in a state of uncertainty, as the entire exam cycle has effectively been reset.
For now, NEET-UG 2026 stands as one of the most controversial exam disruptions in recent years, with authorities attempting to restore trust in the system through a complete re-conduct and a parallel criminal investigation.
