New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a major paper leak, with NTA Director General Abhishek Singh assuring students that the re-examination will be conducted in a “completely fair and transparent manner”. The matter has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a detailed probe.
Addressing the media after the Centre’s decision, Abhishek Singh said the agency adopted a “zero tolerance” approach once inputs suggested that parts of the examination paper may have been compromised. He said the decision was taken to protect the integrity of the examination and ensure justice for more than 22 lakh aspirants.
According to the NTA chief, the controversy first gained attention after a whistleblower message received on May 7 allegedly highlighted WhatsApp content resembling the actual NEET paper. Over the following days, central agencies verified the information, following which the government concluded that the existing examination process “could not be allowed to stand”.
Singh assured students and parents that no fresh registration would be required for the re-exam. Existing application details and exam centre preferences will remain valid, while candidates will also not have to pay any additional fee. He added that revised examination dates would be announced within the next few days.
The cancellation followed reports that a so-called “guess paper” circulating before the exam allegedly matched a large number of actual questions. Investigators suspect the leak network may have spread across multiple states, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana.
The issue has triggered outrage among students and political parties, with many demanding strict accountability and major reforms in India’s examination system.