The NEET-UG 2026 exam has been cancelled by the National Testing Agency amid allegations of irregularities, prompting a CBI inquiry and a re-examination to ensure fairness and transparency for aspiring medical students.
Key Points
- A comprehensive CBI inquiry has been ordered to investigate allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination process.
- The NTA will announce new dates for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination and reissue admit cards through official channels.
- The decision to cancel NEET-UG 2026 was made to maintain trust in the national examination system after inputs from central agencies and law enforcement.
- The NTA assures full cooperation with the CBI, providing all necessary materials and assistance for the NEET-UG 2026 inquiry.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 conducted on May 3, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately.
The Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR in connection with the alleged leak of the NEET (UG) paper, officials said.
The agency said that it would carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations linked to the exam, the agency said.
In a statement, the NTA said the decision was taken in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.
"On the basis of inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies, 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," the agency said.
The agency said the inputs received, taken together with findings shared by law enforcement agencies, established that the "present examination process could not be allowed to stand."
"The re-conducted examination dates, along with the re-issued admit-card schedule, will be communicated through the official channels of the Agency in the coming days," it added.
The NTA further said the government has decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations linked to the examination.
"NTA will extend full cooperation to the Bureau and will provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires," it added.
The CBI will soon dispatch a team to Rajasthan to collect material from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police, which was investigating the case.
The probe agency had earlier solved the NEET paper-leak cases of 2024.
The Centre has referred the matter to the CBI for what the officials described as a "comprehensive inquiry" into allegations of paper leak linked to the examination.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted by the NTA on May 3 for students seeking admission to medical education courses at the undergraduate level.
In a post on X on Sunday, the NTA had said question papers were transported in GPS-tracked vehicles carrying unique, traceable watermark identifiers, while examination centres were monitored through AI-assisted CCTV surveillance from a central control room.
"The National Testing Agency is aware of reports concerning the action initiated by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group in connection with alleged irregularities around NEET-UG 2026. The examination on May 3, 2026 was conducted as scheduled and under a full security protocol," the NTA had said.
According to the agency, inputs regarding alleged malpractice activity were received on the evening of May 7, four days after the examination, and were escalated to central agencies on the morning of May 8 for "independent verification and necessary action".
It further said the action taken by law enforcement authorities, including recent detentions reported in the media, was a result of the "professional and timely work" of the investigating agencies.
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