The National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move affecting over 24 lakh aspirants, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3, citing evidence gathered from multiple states that suggested significant overlap between pre-circulated “guess papers” and the actual question paper.The Centre has also handed over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive probe into the alleged paper leak and organised malpractice network.
The cancellation came days after Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) began probing suspicious question sets allegedly circulated before the examination. Investigators claimed that more than 100 biology and chemistry questions from a bank of over 400 questions matched the final NEET paper.
May 3: NEET-UG 2026 conducted nationwide
NEET-UG 2026 was held across the country for more than 24 lakh medical aspirants. The NTA later maintained that the examination was conducted under “full security protocol”, including GPS-tracked transport of question papers, biometric verification of candidates, AI-assisted CCTV surveillance and deployment of 5G jammers at centres.At the time, authorities declared the examination had proceeded smoothly across all centres.
Days before exam: ‘Guess paper’ begins circulating
According to Rajasthan SOG officials, a set of over 400 questions began circulating through coaching networks and intermediaries days before the exam.Investigators later found that more than 100 questions — particularly from biology and chemistry — bore “striking similarities” to questions that eventually appeared in the NEET paper.SOG officials described the material as a “guess paper” or coaching test series, though investigators did not rule out the possibility of a deeper leak network.
Rajasthan and Uttarakhand emerge as key leads
The first major breakthrough reportedly came from Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, where law enforcement agencies flagged suspicious overlaps to the NTA.Investigators traced the circulation trail across Sikar — Rajasthan’s coaching hub — and Dehradun. Officials later said the “guess paper” had allegedly travelled from Kerala to Sikar via Dehradun.Anand Srivastava, Director General of SOG and ATS, said preliminary findings suggested nearly 25% of the circulated material matched the actual exam paper.
May 7-8: NTA receives inputs, alerts central agencies
The NTA said suspicious inputs were received late on May 7 regarding alleged pre-circulation of question sets.On the morning of May 8, the agency escalated the matter to central agencies for “independent verification and necessary action”, while simultaneously sharing technical and examination-related data with investigators.Even at this stage, the NTA publicly maintained that the examination process itself had proceeded normally.
SOG widens probe, conducts searches
As the probe deepened, Rajasthan SOG teams carried out searches and field inquiries across multiple cities, including Sikar.Officials questioned coaching operators, intermediaries and suspects allegedly linked to paper leak syndicates, dummy candidate rackets and solver gangs.One suspect was found to allegedly possess the question set on April 30 — three days before the exam.Investigators also began examining digital trails, communication records and possible money transactions linked to the circulation network.
More than 20 detained, former RPSC figures questioned
The Rajasthan SOG later detained over 20 people in connection with the suspected malpractice.The agency also summoned former Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) member and acting chairman Shiv Singh Rathore for questioning in connection with broader recruitment exam leak investigations.Separately, SOG arrested former RPSC member Babulal Katara and two others in the 2022 School Lecturer Recruitment Examination paper leak case, intensifying scrutiny over alleged organised examination rackets operating in Rajasthan.
Maharashtra angle surfaces
Parallel claims surfaced from Latur in Maharashtra, where videos and copies of purported NEET test-series papers circulated on social media from a coaching academy.However, local police said no formal investigation had been initiated there at the time.
Political storm erupts
The controversy quickly snowballed into a political flashpoint.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of failing students and alleged that NEET questions were being sold before the examination.Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra demanded a CBI probe, claiming around 150 questions matched the so-called guess paper and arguing that identical numbering patterns made the leak “100% certain”.The allegations revived memories of the NEET-2024 controversy, which had already triggered widespread debate over the credibility of national examinations.
May 12: NTA cancels NEET-UG 2026
Following consultations with central agencies and law-enforcement authorities, the NTA announced that the May 3 examination “cannot be permitted to stand”.In a detailed statement, the agency said the cumulative material available “did not permit continuation of the existing examination process without compromising standards of fairness and public confidence”.The government simultaneously decided to transfer the matter to the CBI for a comprehensive inquiry.The NTA said all candidature data and exam centre preferences from the May cycle would remain valid for the fresh examination. No new registration will be required, no additional fees will be charged, and previously paid fees will be refunded.Fresh examination dates and revised admit card schedules will be announced separately through official NTA channels.
