NEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Paper Leak Row: What Students Need To Know

Last Updated:May 12, 2026, 13:37 IST

The NEET exam cancellation came after reports surfaced from Rajasthan regarding a suspected “guess paper” leak. The case is now being investigated by CBI.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026, has been cancelled following concerns over a possible paper leak. The examination was conducted on May 3 and around 22 lakh students appeared for it across the country.

The decision was announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday after concerns emerged over the integrity of the examination process. The matter has now turned into one of the biggest examination controversies in recent years, once again raising serious questions over exam security in India.

The cancellation came after reports surfaced from Rajasthan regarding a suspected “guess paper" leak. The case is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following directions from the Central Government.

What triggered the controversy?

The controversy began after the Rajasthan Special Operations Group, commonly known as the SOG, launched an investigation into allegations surrounding the examination.

According to reports, investigators found a handwritten “guess paper" containing 120 questions that matched questions from the actual NEET examination. Officials reportedly found that nearly 90 Biology questions and 30 Chemistry questions were similar to the final paper.

The Rajasthan SOG later confirmed that it was investigating the examination after recovering the material that appeared to closely match the actual test paper.

The findings immediately raised concerns about whether the examination had been compromised before students entered examination centres.

Two possible leak routes under investigation

Investigators are now examining two possible routes through which the paper may have leaked.

One line of investigation focuses on the printing stage of the examination papers. Sources suggest the handwritten paper may have originated from a printing press, raising questions about internal security systems.

The second possibility being examined is whether there was any involvement from the paper setter or those linked to the preparation process.

The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are trying to determine how the material circulated before the examination.

Over 45 people detained 

As part of the investigation, more than 45 people have reportedly been detained in Rajasthan.

Law enforcement agencies are examining whether organised malpractice networks were involved in circulating the alleged question paper before the examination.

The Centre has now handed over the case to the CBI for a detailed probe. The agency will investigate how the “guess paper" spread and whether there was a larger network involved in the operation.

The NTA has said it will fully cooperate with investigators by providing all examination-related records, technical support and data required during the inquiry.

What NTA said about the cancellation?

In its statement, the NTA said it became aware of alleged irregularities connected to NEET UG 2026 after receiving inputs on the evening of May 7, four days after the examination.

The agency stated that these inputs were immediately referred to central agencies on the morning of May 8 for independent verification and necessary action.

The NTA also acknowledged the work done by law enforcement agencies, saying the detentions and investigation reflected their “professional and timely work". After examining the findings shared by investigators, the NTA decided to cancel the examination with the approval of the Government of India.

According to the agency, continuing with the present examination process would have caused greater damage to public trust in the examination system.

Re-examination to be held

The NTA has confirmed that NEET UG 2026 will now be conducted again.

Fresh examination dates will be announced through official channels in the coming days. New admit cards will also be issued before the re-examination.

The agency admitted that conducting the test again would create inconvenience for students and families. However, it stressed that a compromised examination would have damaged confidence in the system even more.

For lakhs of students who spent months preparing for the examination, the announcement has brought uncertainty and added pressure.

No fresh registration required

The agency has clarified that students will not need to register again for the re-examination. All registration data and candidature details from the May 2026 examination cycle will automatically be carried forward.

The examination centres selected earlier will also remain valid for the re-test. Students will not have to pay any additional examination fee for appearing again.

The NTA has also announced that fees already paid by candidates will be refunded.

What were NTA’s anti-leak measures?

Over the years, the NTA has introduced several anti-leak and anti-cheating measures to strengthen examination security.

The agency’s major steps have included stronger identity verification systems, tighter transportation and storage protocols for question papers, and increased surveillance at examination centres.

Stronger identity verification: The NTA introduced biometric and Aadhaar-based verification systems to reduce impersonation during examinations.

Facial recognition technology and live photo capture were also used during registration or entry checks to improve identification processes.

These measures were aimed at ensuring that only genuine candidates appeared for the examination.

Increased surveillance at exam centres: The agency expanded CCTV monitoring and tightened control inside examination halls.

Frisking procedures, duty-magistrate inspections and closer centre-level vigilance were also introduced to detect cheating attempts and suspicious activities.

The NTA additionally increased the number of observers and rotated examination staff regularly to prevent local networks or repeated collusion at centres.

Secure transport and paper handling: Question papers and OMR sheets were transported under police escort and GPS tracking.

The agency also introduced digital locks and secure packet-handling systems so papers could only be opened at authorised centres and scheduled times.

These measures were designed to reduce the possibility of leaks during transport and storage.

Signal blocking and technology controls: To stop mobile phone-based cheating and online communication during examinations, the NTA used 5G jammers and signal-blocking systems at centres.

These systems were aimed at preventing the use of Bluetooth devices, internet-based communication and electronic cheating methods inside examination halls.

Changes after the 2024 controversy: Following the NEET UG 2024 controversy, the NTA further increased coordination with police and investigating agencies.

The agency also began acting more aggressively against fake paper leak claims and organised cheating networks.

A government panel later recommended even stricter transportation and security protocols to reduce future risks of leaks and malpractice.

The overall strategy adopted by the NTA has been to make leaks more difficult at every stage of the examination process.

Security measures were designed to cover question paper preparation, printing, transportation, examination centres and activities during the exam itself.

Officials have increasingly focused on layered security systems rather than depending on a single safeguard.

What students should do now?

Candidates have been advised to follow NTA for official updates. The agency has specifically asked students and parents to avoid rumours and misinformation circulating on social media platforms.

Since fresh dates are expected soon, students may have to reorganise their preparation schedules and remain exam-ready.

Why this case matters?

NEET is one of India’s largest and most competitive entrance examinations. Any allegation of paper leaks directly affects fairness for lakhs of medical aspirants competing for limited seats.

The cancellation has once again brought attention to concerns about examination security and transparency. By ordering a CBI probe and cancelling the examination, authorities are attempting to send a strong message against malpractice and restore public confidence.

The issue has also revived memories of last year’s NEET controversy.

What happened in 2024?

In 2024, NEET UG also faced major controversy over allegations of paper leaks linked to Patna and Hazaribagh.

However, despite accepting that localised leaks had taken place, the government and the Supreme Court did not cancel the examination.

Officials argued at the time that the breach appeared limited to certain centres and a relatively small number of candidates.

The Supreme Court also observed that there was no evidence showing a system-wide compromise serious enough to scrap the entire examination.

As a result, the exam remained valid despite widespread criticism and protests.

Earlier cases of exam cancellation

NEET and similar medical entrance examinations have faced controversies in the past as well. The clearest examples of cancellation or re-tests often cited are from 2004 and 2015.

In 2015, the examination was reconducted after what was considered a major breach in the system. That case later became the benchmark for situations involving widespread compromise of the examination process.

The distinction between localised leaks and broader systemic compromise has often determined whether authorities decide to cancel examinations entirely.

For now, the attention has shifted towards the re-examination and the ongoing investigation. While the cancellation has created stress and uncertainty for lakhs of candidates, authorities maintain that the decision was necessary to protect fairness and credibility in one of the country’s most important entrance examinations.

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