The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 after serious allegations related to a possible paper leak and suspicious “guess paper” circulation surfaced during an investigation by Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG).
The decision has shocked lakhs of medical aspirants across the country, as the examination is India’s largest entrance test for undergraduate medical admissions. The government has also ordered a detailed investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the entire matter.
According to the latest update, the NTA announced the cancellation through its official communication channels after examining preliminary findings emerging from the Rajasthan SOG investigation.
The NTA confirmed that the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3 will now be conducted again on fresh dates, which will be announced separately.
The agency stated that the decision was taken following serious concerns regarding examination fairness and integrity.
According to the official statement, the move reflects the government’s commitment to conducting national-level examinations in a secure, transparent, and trustworthy manner.
The NTA had earlier issued a statement on May 10 addressing growing concerns over the alleged leak controversy. After further developments in the investigation, the agency finally decided to cancel the examination completely.
The most significant development came from the investigation being conducted by Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group.
According to investigators, a 150-page “guess paper” containing around 410 questions had reportedly been circulating among candidates several days before the examination.
The investigation claims that:
However, officials have clarified that the investigation is still ongoing and no final conclusion regarding a confirmed paper leak has yet been officially declared.
According to Rajasthan SOG Additional Director General Vishal Bansal, investigators are currently examining whether the so-called guess paper was connected to any organized cheating network or criminal activity.
Officials stated that the primary focus of the investigation is to determine:
Authorities are also investigating digital communication channels and transaction records related to the circulation of the material.
The Government of India has now officially transferred the matter to the CBI for a comprehensive investigation.
According to the NTA’s latest notice:
The NTA also stated that it will fully cooperate with the investigation and provide all required records and documents.
The NTA has clarified that candidates who appeared for the May 3 examination will not need to:
The re-examination process will use existing candidate records.
Officials have also stated that:
This announcement has offered some relief to students and families concerned about additional financial burden.
The NTA has said that fresh dates for the re-examination will be announced later through official channels.
Candidates have been advised to rely only on:
and verified government communication platforms for updates regarding:
The agency has warned students not to trust rumors, fake notices, or unofficial social media claims.
The cancellation has affected lakhs of students who had been preparing for the examination for months or even years.
Students are now facing:
Many parents and students have expressed disappointment over the situation, while others have supported the decision, saying a fresh examination is necessary to ensure fairness.
The controversy has once again triggered debate over examination security in large-scale competitive tests in India.
Experts are now demanding stronger safeguards such as:
Several education experts believe the latest incident could push authorities toward major examination reforms in the future.
In its statement, the NTA emphasized that maintaining the integrity of national examinations remains its top priority.
The agency stated that all decisions taken so far have been aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity for all candidates.
With the CBI now formally investigating the matter and the examination officially cancelled, NEET UG 2026 has become one of the biggest examination controversies in recent years, sparking nationwide discussion over exam security, coaching networks, and the future of competitive entrance testing in India.
