New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a major paper leak, triggering panic among more than 22 lakh medical aspirants across the country. The case has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing what investigators suspect could be a multi-state racket.
The controversy erupted after authorities in Rajasthan found that a so-called “guess paper” circulating before the examination allegedly matched a significant portion of the actual question paper. Initial investigations by the Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) indicated that the leak network may have stretched across Rajasthan, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
According to reports, investigators suspect that the paper first reached a medical student linked to Kerala before being circulated through coaching and consultancy channels in Rajasthan. Sources claimed that PDFs containing questions were shared through intermediaries days before the exam.
Several arrests and detentions have already been made in different states. Officials are now trying to identify the masterminds behind the alleged operation and determine how confidential examination material was accessed and distributed.
The NTA said the decision to cancel the May 3 examination was taken to protect the “integrity and fairness” of the selection process. Fresh examination dates are expected to be announced soon, and officials have clarified that students will not have to register again or pay additional fees for the re-test.
The issue has sparked sharp political reactions and renewed concerns over the security of India’s competitive examinations. Student organisations have also demanded stricter accountability and reforms in the examination system.