The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination after serious allegations of a question paper leak surfaced across multiple states. The medical entrance exam, which was conducted on May 3, is now set to be held again on a new date that will be announced soon.
According to sources linked to the investigation, a so-called “guess paper” circulated before the exam reportedly had an extremely high similarity with the actual NEET question paper. In Biology, all 90 questions were allegedly found to match the original paper, while in Chemistry, around 35 out of 45 questions were said to be identical.
Investigators believe such a high level of similarity is highly unusual and points towards a possible organised leak network.
Questions Allegedly Shared Before Exam
Sources claim the leaked material was distributed both physically and through digital platforms. Reports suggest that the papers had reached several coaching centres, especially in major education hubs like Sikar in Rajasthan, nearly a month before the examination.
The alleged leak has once again raised concerns over the security and transparency of national-level entrance exams in India.
NEET UG is one of the country’s biggest competitive exams for medical admissions. This year, nearly 23 lakh students registered for the examination, which was conducted in 551 cities across India and 14 international centres.
CBI Registers Case In NEET Leak Matter
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now officially registered a case to investigate the alleged malpractice.
The NTA stated that by May 7, it had received several complaints related to irregularities during the exam process. These complaints were later shared with central agencies for verification and investigation.
After reviewing the findings and consulting with law enforcement authorities, the government approved the cancellation of the examination.
In its official statement, the NTA said the exam would be reconducted and students would not need to register again or pay any additional fee.
The agency also confirmed that fresh admit cards and the revised exam schedule will be released through official NTA platforms in the coming days.
Students Express Frustration Over Cancellation
The cancellation has created uncertainty and stress among lakhs of medical aspirants across the country. Many students have expressed disappointment, saying months of preparation have now been disrupted due to alleged system failures.
Student groups and political organisations have also staged protests in several states, demanding strict action against those responsible for the leak.
Political Reactions Intensify
Reacting to the controversy, Congress leader Sachin Pilot questioned the government’s handling of repeated examination leak cases.
He said accountability must be fixed in national-level exams and criticised the authorities for relying only on investigations without visible action against those involved in earlier cases.
Security Measures Under Question
Interestingly, the NTA had earlier claimed that advanced security arrangements were introduced for NEET UG 2026, including GPS tracking of question papers and CCTV surveillance at examination centres.
However, the latest allegations have once again sparked debate about the effectiveness of these measures and the need for stronger exam security systems in India.
