The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026, following allegations of paper leaks and irregularities linked to a circulated “guess paper.” The decision, approved by the Government of India, affects approximately 22.79 lakh registered candidates across India and abroad. The Government has also referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry, while the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) continues its investigation into the alleged leak and organised crime links.

Key Takeaways on NEET UG 2026 Cancellation

• NEET UG 2026 conducted on May 3 has been cancelled by NTA
• Around 22.79 lakh candidates are affected by the decision
• The exam was held at over 5,432 centres across 551 Indian cities and 14 international cities
• The cancellation follows allegations of a “guess paper” leak
• The Government of India has ordered a CBI inquiry
• Rajasthan SOG is investigating the alleged irregularities
• NTA stated that the examination will be re-conducted on fresh dates
• Revised exam dates and fresh admit card schedules will be announced through official channels
• The provisional answer key was released on May 6
• More than 6,000 observers and over two lakh personnel were deployed during the examination process

NTA Announces Cancellation of NEET UG 2026

The National Testing Agency announced on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026 now stands cancelled. The examination had originally been conducted on May 3, 2026.

In its official statement, the NTA said the decision was taken after examining inputs in coordination with central agencies and considering investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies.

The agency stated:

“On the basis of the inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with the central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies and in order to ensure that there is transparency in the system, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately.”

The testing agency further clarified that the revised examination schedule and re-issued admit cards will be communicated through its official channels in the coming days.

Paper Leak Allegations Trigger Nationwide Controversy

The cancellation comes amid allegations that a “guess paper” circulated before the examination reportedly contained questions closely matching the actual NEET UG 2026 paper.

According to the investigation being carried out by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), the circulated material is being examined for possible links to organised crime networks.

Rajasthan Police SOG Additional Director General Vishal Bansal stated that the agency was verifying whether the circulation of the material was linked to organised crime.

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Reports linked to the investigation suggested that more than 100 questions allegedly matched the actual examination paper. The issue rapidly escalated into a nationwide controversy due to the scale of the examination and the number of students involved.

Government Orders CBI Inquiry Into Allegations

The Government of India has referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations linked to the examination.

The NTA stated that the decision was taken in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests.

According to the agency, although the re-conduct of the examination would cause inconvenience to candidates and their families, allowing the existing examination process to continue would have caused greater damage to public trust in the examination system.

The issue has also led to growing public discussion regarding examination transparency and security mechanisms in national-level competitive examinations.

Scale of the Examination and Candidate Impact

NEET UG is considered one of the largest entrance examinations in the world. Official data released by the NTA showed that approximately 22.79 lakh candidates registered for NEET UG 2026.

The examination was conducted:

Earlier, the NTA had stated through a press release that over 6,000 observers had been deployed for independent oversight at examination centres. Additionally, more than two lakh personnel had been mobilised to ensure smooth conduct of the examination process.

Investigation Timeline and Developments

The controversy intensified after reports emerged that suspicious documents and PDFs had been circulated before the examination.

A senior NTA official reportedly stated that the agency had received inputs regarding a PDF file circulating on May 7 and had informed investigative agencies about the matter. Investigators were examining whether the document had circulated before the examination itself.

Investigations later expanded beyond Rajasthan, with reports mentioning leads connected to Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. Searches were conducted and several individuals were detained during the probe.

The matter drew widespread attention due to the possibility that the integrity of one of India’s most significant entrance examinations may have been compromised.

Fresh Examination Dates Awaited by Candidates

Following the cancellation announcement, candidates are now awaiting the revised examination schedule.

The NTA has confirmed that:

• The examination will be conducted again
• Fresh dates will be notified separately
• Re-issued admit card schedules will also be announced officially
• Official communication will be released through authorised NTA channels

The agency has advised candidates and parents to wait for official updates regarding the re-examination process.

Examination Integrity and Public Trust Become Central Focus

The cancellation of NEET UG 2026 has placed examination transparency and public trust at the centre of national discussion. The NTA stated that the decision was taken to protect the credibility of the national examination system despite the inconvenience caused to candidates and families. With the CBI inquiry underway and Rajasthan SOG continuing its probe into the alleged “guess paper” circulation, attention is now focused on the upcoming re-examination process and the official announcements expected from the agency in the coming days.

FAQs on NEET UG 2026 Cancellation