The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3 after confirming a paper leak. Over 22 lakh students are affected and a retest will be scheduled soon. The CBI has taken over the investigation.
The National Testing Agency announced the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam on May 12. The decision followed verification that a guess paper circulating via a paid WhatsApp group matched questions from the actual test. Director General Abhishek Singh said the agency acted after receiving post-exam complaints and tip-offs.
A suspect identified as Shubham Khairnar was arrested in Nashik on May 12. Rajasthan police had traced the leak to a multi-state network involving at least six states. The CBI registered a case and took custody of key suspects.
The cancellation is the second major incident involving NEET in two years. A committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan had recommended reforms after the 2024 leak but several measures remain unimplemented. Student groups staged protests in Delhi demanding accountability from the NTA.
