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The NTA has cancelled NEET UG 2026 conducted on May 3. The examination will be held again on dates to be announced later. No fresh registration will be required, examination fees will be refunded, and a CBI probe has been ordered.
National Students' Union of India (NSUI) workers hold a protest against the central government after the NEET-UG 2026 examination was cancelled amid allegations of paper leaks and examination irregularities, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Video Grab)(ANI Video Grab )The National Testing Agency (NTA)'s decision to scrap the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3 has drawn mounting criticism from aspirants as well as the opposition, who accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led dispensation of “negligence” towards students’ future.
The medical entrance examination was cancelled after "guess papers" matching over 100 questions in Chemistry and Biology were allegedly circulated and sold for a massive amount. The entrance examination will be re-conducted, and the examination dates will be notified separately, the NTA has said.
Do students need to register again?
The NTA said that registration details, candidature information, and examination-centre preferences submitted for the May 2026 session would remain valid for the re-examination. Students will not be required to register again, and no extra examination fee will be charged. The agency also stated that fees already paid would be refunded, while the re-examination would be conducted using NTA’s internal resources.
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The NEET UG 2026 examination was cancelled due to allegations of a paper leak, where "guess papers" matching over 100 questions in Chemistry and Biology were allegedly circulated and sold. The National Testing Agency (NTA) decided to cancel the exam to ensure transparency and preserve trust in the national examination system.
No, students do not need to register again for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination. The NTA has stated that registration details, candidature information, and examination-centre preferences submitted for the May 2026 session will remain valid.
The government has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case. The Nashik City Crime Branch has also made an arrest in connection with the case.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has stated that the examination dates for the re-conducted NEET UG 2026 examination will be notified separately through official channels in the coming days.
The investigation is currently focused on a 'guess paper' containing approximately 410 questions, of which around 120 are alleged to have appeared in the Chemistry section of the NEET UG 2026 exam. This guess paper was reportedly circulating among students for 15 days to a month before the exam.
Here's what we know so far in the NEET 'leak' case
1. The government has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the paper 'leak' case.
2. The Nashik City Crime Branch has arrested a youth named Shubham Khairnar from Indira Nagar in connection with the case. He will soon be handed over to the Rajasthan Police, which will further transfer him to the CBI, Hindustan Times reported.
3. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has refused to entertain media queries on the NEET row. Pradhan declined to comment when reporters asked for his reaction to the controversy.
4. Several opposition leaders took to X to question the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and demand accountability over the repeated controversies linked to entrance examinations.
5. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students had been “crushed by this corrupt BJP regime”. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, “The NEET 2026 examination has been cancelled. The hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been crushed by this corrupt BJP regime. Some fathers took loans, some mothers sold their jewellery, lakhs of children stayed up all night studying, and in return, they got paper leaks, government negligence, and organised corruption in education.”
"This is not just a failure-it's a crime against the future of the youth," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
6 The examination was held across 551 cities in India and 14 international cities at more than 5,432 centres, with nearly 22.79 lakh candidates registered for the test. The paper consisted of 180 questions carrying a total of 720 marks.
7. The provisional answer key was issued on May 7, 2026.
About the Author
Kanishka Singharia
Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.
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