New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday reacted to the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, assuring students that the government would take strict action against those responsible for compromising the integrity of the country’s biggest medical entrance test. The controversy erupted after allegations of a major paper leak surfaced days after the exam was conducted on May 3.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) officially cancelled the examination following reports that a so-called “guess paper” circulating before the exam allegedly matched several questions from the actual paper. The matter has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has begun its probe into the suspected leak network.
Speaking on the issue indirectly while facing questions from the media in Delhi, Pradhan avoided detailed comments but government sources later reiterated that there would be “zero tolerance” towards any irregularity affecting students’ careers. The minister had earlier maintained that the Centre was committed to ensuring transparency and fairness in all competitive examinations.
According to the NTA, inputs regarding alleged irregularities were received on May 7, four days after the examination. These inputs were immediately shared with central agencies for independent verification. Following preliminary findings, the government decided to scrap the exam and conduct a fresh test. Revised examination dates are expected to be announced within the next week.
The cancellation has affected more than 22 lakh aspirants across India and abroad, triggering strong political reactions and protests by students’ organisations. Opposition parties accused the Centre of failing to protect the examination system, while several student groups demanded sweeping reforms in the functioning of the NTA.