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The cancellation of NEET exam came after reports emerged regarding suspected “estimate sheet” leak from Rajasthan. CBI is now investigating the case.
NEET UG 2026 canceled after leak allegations
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 has been canceled following concerns over possible paper leaks. The exam was held on May 3 and around 22 lakh students appeared for it across the country.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the decision on Tuesday after concerns emerged over the integrity of the examination process. This matter has now become one of the biggest exam controversies in recent years, once again raising serious questions over exam security in India.
The cancellation came after reports emerged regarding a suspected “estimate paper” leak from Rajasthan. Following the instructions of the Central Government, this matter is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
What caused the controversy?
The controversy started when Rajasthan Special Operations Group, commonly known as SOG, started investigating the allegations related to the exam.
According to reports, investigators found a handwritten “guess paper” containing 120 questions that matched the actual NEET exam questions. Officials reportedly found that around 90 questions from Biology and 30 questions from Chemistry were similar to the final paper.
Rajasthan SOG later confirmed that it was investigating the exam after recovering material that closely matched the actual exam paper.
The findings immediately raised concerns over whether the exams had been compromised before students entered the exam centres.
Two possible leakage routes are being investigated
Investigators are now examining two possible routes through which the paper could have been leaked.
One line of inquiry focuses on the printing stage of examination papers. Sources say that the handwritten paper might have come from a printing press, raising questions over internal security systems.
The second possibility being investigated is whether there was any involvement of the paper setter or people associated with the preparation process.
The investigation is still ongoing, and officials are trying to determine how the material circulated before the exam.
More than 45 people were detained
As part of the investigation, more than 45 people have reportedly been detained in Rajasthan.
Law enforcement agencies are investigating whether organized malpractice networks were involved in circulating the alleged question papers ahead of the exam.
The Center has now handed over the case to CBI for detailed investigation. The agency will investigate how the “guess letter” was spread and whether any larger network was involved in the operation.
NTA has said that it will fully cooperate with the investigators by providing all exam-related records, technical support and data required during the investigation.
What did NTA say on the cancellation?
NTA in its statement said that it became aware of the alleged irregularities related to NEET UG 2026 after receiving inputs on the evening of May 7, four days after the exam.
The agency said these inputs were immediately sent to central agencies on the morning of May 8 for independent verification and necessary action.
The NTA also acknowledged the work done by law enforcement agencies and said the detention and investigation reflected their “professional and timely work”. After examining the findings shared by the scrutineers, NTA decided to cancel the exam with the approval of the Government of India.
According to the agency, continuing the current examination process would have caused greater harm to public confidence in the examination system.
have to re-exam
NTA has confirmed that NEET UG 2026 will now be conducted again.
New exam dates will be announced through official channels in the coming days. New admit cards will also be issued before the re-examination.
The agency admitted that re-conducting the examination would cause inconvenience to students and families. However, it stressed that compromised testing would lead to an even greater loss of confidence in the system.
The announcement brings uncertainty and added pressure for millions of students who have spent months preparing for the exam.
No new registration required
The agency has clarified that students will not need to re-register for re-examination. All registration data and candidature details will be automatically carried forward from the May 2026 examination cycle.
The previously selected examination centers will also be valid for re-examination. Students will not have to pay any additional examination fee for re-examination.
NTA has also announced that the fees already paid by the candidates will be refunded.
What were the anti-leakage measures of NTA?
Over the past few years, NTA has introduced several anti-leak and anti-cheating measures to strengthen exam security.
Key steps taken by the agency include stronger identity verification system, strict transportation and storage protocols for question papers and increased surveillance at examination centres.
Strong Identity Verification: NTA introduced biometric and Aadhaar-based verification system to reduce impersonation during examinations.
Facial recognition technology and live photo capture were also used during registration or entry checks to improve identification processes.
The objective of these measures was to ensure that only genuine candidates appear in the examination.
Enhanced surveillance at examination centres: The agency expanded CCTV surveillance and tightened controls inside the examination halls.
Frisking procedures, duty-magistrate inspection and close centre-level vigilance were also introduced to detect fraudulent attempts and suspicious activities.
NTA increased the number of invigilators and regularly rotated the exam staff to prevent repeated collusion at local networks or centres.
Secure transportation and paper management: Question papers and OMR sheets were taken under police escort and GPS tracking.
The agency also introduced digital locks and secure packet-handling systems so that papers could be opened only at authorized centers and at scheduled times.
These measures were designed to reduce the possibility of leakage during transportation and storage.
Signal Interception and Technology Control: To prevent mobile phone-based cheating and online communication during the examinations, NTA used 5G jammers and signal-blocking systems at the centres.
The purpose of these systems was to prevent the use of Bluetooth devices, Internet-based communication and electronic cheating methods inside the examination hall.
Changes after 2024 controversy: After NEET UG 2024 controversy, NTA increased coordination with police and investigating agencies.
The agency also began to act more aggressively against fake paper leak claims and organized fraud networks.
A government panel later recommended even stricter transportation and security protocols to reduce future risks of leaks and misconduct.
The overall strategy adopted by NTA is to make leaks more difficult at every stage of the examination process.
The security measures were designed to cover question paper preparation, printing, transportation, examination centers and activities during the examination.
Authorities have increasingly focused on layered security systems rather than relying on a single security.
What should students do now?
Candidates are advised to follow NTA for official updates. The agency has specifically asked students and parents to avoid rumors and misinformation spread on social media platforms.
Since new dates are expected soon, students will have to reorganize their preparation schedule and be ready for the exam.
Why does this matter?
NEET is one of the largest and most competitive entrance examinations in India. Any allegation of paper leak directly affects the fairness of lakhs of medical aspirants competing for the limited seats.
The cancellation has once again drawn attention to concerns over exam security and transparency. By ordering a CBI inquiry and canceling the exam, officials are attempting to send a strong message against malpractices and restore public confidence.
This issue has also refreshed memories of last year’s NEET controversy.
What happened in 2024?
In 2024, NEET UG also faced major controversy over paper leak allegations related to Patna and Hazaribagh.
However, despite admitting that there was leakage at the local level, the government and the Supreme Court did not cancel the exams.
Officials argued at the time that the violation was limited to a few centers and a relatively small number of candidates.
The Supreme Court also said there was no evidence that showed system-wide compromise was serious enough to warrant voiding the entire exam.
As a result, the test remained valid despite widespread criticism and opposition.
Matters before cancellation of examination
NEET and similar medical entrance exams have faced controversies in the past. The most obvious examples of cancellation or retrial are often cited from 2004 and 2015.
In 2015, the exam was re-conducted after what was deemed a major breach in the system. That case later became the standard for widely compromised situations in the examination process.
The difference between localized leaks and wider systemic compromise often determines whether officials decide to cancel the exams altogether.
At present the focus has shifted to re-examination and ongoing investigation. While the cancellation has created stress and uncertainty for millions of candidates, officials say the decision was necessary to protect fairness and credibility in one of the country’s most important entrance exams.
Delhi, India, India
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