The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday canceled the NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3 amid allegations of paper leakage, leaving nearly 24 lakh candidates restless and anxious. The cancellation came after “estimates” corresponding to more than 100 chemistry and biology questions were allegedly sent out and sold ₹7,30,000, prompting an investigation into alleged irregularities by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG).
Students took to the streets to protest the NTA’s decision, with many also expressing their frustration on social media.
‘2024 was a disaster and now 2026 is happening again’
For many students, the cancellation was not unexpected. They were even more shocked to feel that the system had fallen into the same crisis again in just two years.
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The NEET UG 2026 exam was canceled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 3 due to allegations of paper leak. “Guess papers” with more than 100 chemistry and biology questions were allegedly circulated and sold, prompting an investigation.
NTA has decided to cancel the NEET UG 2026 exam conducted on May 3 and will conduct it again on dates to be announced separately. All candidature details and test center preferences remain valid and no additional fees will be charged and existing fees will be refunded.
Candidates from overseas centers are worried about whether the exam will be re-conducted at their headquarters and how the changes might affect their schedules. They raised questions about logistics and the impact on other exam dates.
NTA has said that no fresh registration will be required for NEET UG 2026 re-examination. Candidate details and selected centers from the May 2026 cycle will be carried over and fees already paid will be refunded.
The NTA has reportedly implemented a “complete security protocol” for the NEET UG 2026 exam, including GPS-tracked vehicles, AI-assisted CCTV surveillance and biometric authentication. Allegations of irregularities surfaced after investigators found similarities between the questions being circulated and the actual exam.
Read also | NEET UG 2026 Leak? The 100+ questions were said to be riddles
“2024 was a disaster and now 2026 is happening again. It’s not just a leak, it’s a systemic failure. How many years will students pay the price for NTA’s incompetence? Re-doing the exam is a band-aid, not a cure. We need accountability, not just a new date,” shared a user on X.
“It’s not fair to someone who has been working on this for the past 3 years. Is it flawless? Is this our school exam that you are going to re-administer to 26k applicants?” wrote another.
“Imagine sacrificing your teenage years only to have an exam body say, Oops, try again,” read one comment.
Another read: “w** re-test? NTA should not be able to conduct more exams now; an independent body should replace it. students are suffering mental trauma and are just playing with the future. It’s not a trial and error attempt.”
Read also | NEET UG 2026 Answer Key: How to Download NEET UG Answer Key PDF
The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) also reacted to the controversy, saying on Twitter: “FAIMA demands immediate accountability for this paper leak. We will not remain silent. Exemplary punishment is the only way forward.”
What are foreign candidates afraid of?
The cancellation also caused confusion among candidates from overseas examination centers. Many students from the Gulf countries have expressed concern about whether the exam will be held again in their centers and how the changes will affect their schedules.
“Will it be done again in the Gulf centers as well? We paid around.” ₹9.5 thousand
Read also | NTA cancels NEET 2026 exam held on May 3 amid paper leak probe
and most of us are writing other exams in gulf countries as well. What about the NRI children in the Gulf?” asked the aspirant.
The National Testing Agency said all candidacy details and test center preferences submitted for the May 2026 session will remain in place. Candidates will not have to re-register and no additional examination fee will be charged. The agency also said that examination fees already paid would be refunded.
However, several logistical issues still remain unresolved for students outside India, especially those managing multiple entrance exam schedules in different countries.
What did the NTA say about the review?
“Based on inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with central authorities and findings of investigations shared by law enforcement agencies and with a view to ensuring transparency of 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 May 3.
The agency urged candidates and parents to rely only on official channels and ignore unverified reports circulating on social media.
NTA has also released helpline numbers 011-40759000 and 011-69227700 along with email id neet-ug@nta.ac.in.
