The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a paper leak linked to Rajasthan. The examination, which was conducted on May 3 for admission to undergraduate medical courses across India, will now be held again on fresh dates that will be announced soon. The Government of India has also ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the matter.

Around 22 lakh students appeared for NEET UG 2026, making it one of the country’s biggest entrance examinations. The cancellation came after law enforcement agencies shared inputs suggesting that the integrity of the examination process may have been compromised. In its official statement, the NTA said the “present examination process could not be allowed to stand”. The agency added that the decision was taken after carefully reviewing all evidence connected to the alleged leak.

The controversy began after developments in Rajasthan, where the state police’s Special Operations Group was investigating claims that the NEET-UG question paper had leaked before the examination. Details from the probe emerged over the last two days and raised serious concerns about the credibility of the test.

According to the investigation, a handwritten set of questions, believed to be part of a “guess paper”, partially matched the actual NEET-UG paper. The “guess paper” was reportedly circulated two to three days before the exam. Around 140 questions from the actual examination, carrying nearly 600 marks out of the total 720, were found to be similar to the handwritten material that had already been shared among some students.

On Sunday, the National Testing Agency (NTA) acknowledged that the Rajasthan Police was probing “alleged irregularities around NEET (UG) 2026”. The agency also stated that it had received information regarding “alleged malpractice” shortly after the examination and had informed the concerned law enforcement authorities. Two days later, the NTA announced the cancellation of the exam.

The agency explained that the decision was necessary to protect transparency and maintain trust in the national examination system. According to the NTA, continuing with an exam that may have been compromised would have damaged the credibility of the process further.

The central government has now handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a detailed inquiry. The probe will focus on how the alleged “guess paper” was circulated before the examination and whether an organised network was involved in the malpractice. The NTA has assured full cooperation and said it would provide all records, data, and documents required for the investigation.

So far, more than 45 people have reportedly been detained in Rajasthan in connection with the case. Initial findings suggest that the leak may have originated from a printing press, raising concerns over security lapses during the printing stage of the examination process. Sources involved in the probe have indicated that a handwritten version of the question paper was circulated, strengthening suspicions that the paper may have been leaked before distribution.

The cancellation has created uncertainty for lakhs of students who had been preparing for months for the highly competitive medical entrance exam. However, the NTA has confirmed that NEET UG 2026 will be conducted again and that new dates will be announced through official channels soon.

The agency also admitted that the re-examination would create inconvenience for students and their families. At the same time, it stressed that allowing a compromised exam to continue would have caused greater long-term damage to public trust in the system.

The NTA clarified that students would not have to register again for the fresh examination. Existing registration details and candidature information will remain valid. Candidates will also be allowed to appear at the exam centres they had previously selected. No extra examination fee will be charged for the re-test.

The fees already paid by students will be refunded, while fresh admit cards will be issued before the new examination date. These measures are aimed at reducing the burden on candidates during the re-exam process.

Students have been advised to depend only on official announcements made by the NTA and avoid misinformation spreading on social media platforms. With fresh dates expected shortly, many candidates may now need to reorganise their preparation plans and remain ready for the re-examination.

The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 has once again brought attention to the issue of examination security in India. As one of the country’s most competitive entrance exams, any irregularity directly affects the fairness for lakhs of aspirants. By cancelling the examination and ordering a CBI investigation, authorities are attempting to show zero tolerance towards malpractice and restore confidence in the system.

For now, the focus remains on the upcoming re-exam and the findings of the investigation. While the decision has increased pressure on students, it also highlights the importance of conducting a fair and credible examination process.