12 May,2026 06:56 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
Students from parts of the country on Tuesday reacted to the the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision on the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3.
The agency said that the exam would be reconducted on dates to be notified separately.
Aspirants from Rajasthan and Jammu on Tuesday welcomed the decision by the NTA, saying it would have been unfair for students appearing honestly if it had not been scrapped.
Furthermore, the aspirants also termed the incident a failure of the NTA and the administration.
Students in Rajasthan's Jodhpur, while speaking to the media on Tuesday, said, "The decision of the NTA is correct, and the paper should be conducted again. It would be unfair for students who appeared honestly for the examination", as cited by IANS.
Another aspirant, while hailing the NTA's decision, asserted, "I support the NTA's decision because it is a good step. When we came to know about the paper leak, we felt really bad. It is good that we will get another chance to appear for the exam and achieve what we deserve."
Expressing his distress over the exam cancellation, another student said, "I am happy with the NTA's decision to cancel the paper because we prepared very hard for it, and then we got to know about the paper leak. It was quite disheartening for all of us."
One of the aspirants in Jammu who appeared in the 2026 NEET exam said, "This is the failure of the NTA and the administration. Earlier too, paper leak incidents had taken place, and this year also it happened. This is unjust for students", as per IANS.
"It is not right because students will have to put in all the hard work again. It is not good for the mental health of students. The NTA should take proper care of such issues," another student from Jammu added.
Earlier in the day, the NTA issued an official statement on X, stating that the decision was taken after examining inputs received from central agencies and law enforcement authorities regarding alleged irregularities in the examination process.
The agency, while announcing the exam cancellation, said, 'In continuation of its press release dated 10 May 2026, the National Testing Agency wishes to inform candidates, parents, and members of the public of the following decisions taken in respect of NEET (UG) 2026. NTA had, on 8 May 2026, referred the matters then under consideration to the central agencies for independent verification and necessary action, consistent with its standing commitment to the fair, secure, and credible conduct of the national examinations entrusted to it", as per IANS.
The NTA further stated that, based on the findings shared by investigative agencies and after coordination with central authorities, the examination process could not be allowed to stand.
The statement from NTA also added, "On the basis of the inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with the central agencies and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies, and in order to ensure that there is transparency in the system, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026 and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately," as cited by IANS.
(With inputs from IANS)
