NEET UG 2026 leak scandal shakes India’s medical entrance system again, exposes deep cracks in exam security

The National Testing Agency (NTA), with approval from the Government of India, has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 for nearly 22.79 lakh candidates.

The agency also announced that the examination will be conducted again on fresh dates that will be notified separately.

The decision affects candidates who appeared for the examination across 551 cities in India and 14 international cities at more than 5,432 examination centers.

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

According to the agency, the findings established that the existing examination process “could not be allowed to stand.”

CBI inquiry ordered

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

The NTA said that the matter had earlier been referred to central agencies on May 8 for independent verification and necessary action in order to maintain fairness and credibility in national examinations.

“NTA will extend full cooperation to the Bureau and will provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires,” the agency said.

Fresh dates for the re-examination and revised admit cards will be announced separately through official channels.

The agency clarified that no fresh registration will be required for the re-test. Registration details, candidature data, and examination centers selected during the May 2026 cycle will remain valid.

No additional examination fee will be charged. The NTA also said that fees already paid by students will be refunded, while the re-examination will be conducted using the agency’s internal resources.

“The Agency is conscious that re-conduct will cause real and significant inconvenience to candidates and their families. NTA does not take that consequence lightly. The decision has been taken because the alternative would have caused greater and more lasting damage to that trust,” the National Testing Agency said on X.

How the controversy unfolded

The controversy began after reports emerged that a pre-circulated “guess paper” allegedly matched major portions of the actual NEET UG 2026 paper.

Investigators claimed that nearly 120 questions from the circulated material appeared in the examination, including around 90 Biology questions and nearly 30 Chemistry questions. Reports further stated that the material may have contained between 120 and 135 matching questions worth nearly 600 marks out of the total 720 marks.

Out of the 360 questions across different paper sets, around 140 allegedly resembled questions that had circulated earlier.

The material reportedly reached students in coaching hubs such as Sikar in Rajasthan several weeks before the examination and was allegedly sold for amounts ranging from ₹30,000 to as high as ₹50 lakh. Some reports also claimed students were charged nearly ₹7.3 lakh shortly before the examination.

Authorities are now investigating whether organized paper leak networks, solver gangs, coaching centers, and intermediaries were involved in distributing the material.

Rajasthan SOG investigation

The Rajasthan Special Operations Group emerged as one of the key investigating agencies after suspicious material linked to the examination surfaced in the state.

Addressing journalists in Jaipur, SOG ADGP Vishal Bansal said investigators were examining a “guess paper” containing around 410 questions.

“There are various misconceptions regarding the NEET exam. There is a ‘guess paper’ with 410 questions. Of those 410 questions, it is said that about 120 questions appeared in chemistry. And this guess paper was with students weeks before the examination, as far back as a month ago," Bansal said.

He added that investigators recovered a PDF document containing more than 400 questions that had allegedly circulated through WhatsApp groups and mobile phones linked to candidates.

“It is a PDF file of about 150 pages with over 400 questions. We are moving step by step. It is a laborious and painful process. All officials are involved in this,” he said.

Bansal said the investigation was focused on determining whether cheating or criminal activity occurred through circulation of the material.

“For example, if someone got it photocopied at an e-mitra, then the e-mitra owner shared it with someone else, and so on. So, our investigation is centered on whether there was cheating or if a crime was committed,” he added.

Investigators are also examining whether the leak originated during the printing stage or through internal handling of question papers.

Reports later claimed that alleged mastermind Manish Yadav had been detained in Jaipur as investigators expanded the probe across Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Nagaur, and other locations.

Authorities are also probing alleged links involving MBBS counseling agents, hostel networks, coaching operators, and intermediaries.

Sources claimed that an individual named Rakesh, allegedly associated with MBBS counseling outside major coaching institutes, was under scrutiny for distributing examination material.

Investigators are also examining allegations that the material was circulated among hostel students with assurances that “this is exactly what will appear in the exam.”

NTA defends security arrangements

Before the controversy escalated, the NTA had highlighted extensive security measures implemented for NEET UG 2026.

According to the agency, more than 6,000 observers were deployed for independent oversight, and over two lakh personnel were mobilized to ensure smooth conduct of the examination. The agency said question papers were transported through GPS-tracked vehicles carrying unique watermark identifiers.

It also said that examination centers operated under AI-assisted CCTV surveillance from centralized control rooms, while biometric verification and 5G jammers were used during the examination.

In a statement posted on X, the NTA maintained that the May 3 examination was conducted under “full security protocol.”

The agency said it received inputs regarding alleged malpractice on May 7 and escalated the matter to central agencies on May 8.

“NTA will not pre-judge the inquiry nor characterize its likely outcome. Whatever the agencies determine, including findings that may require further action, will be examined transparently and disclosed in keeping with established procedure,” the agency said.

NTA chief says situation is “embarrassing”

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh acknowledged the seriousness of the controversy and defended the decision to cancel the examination. “It’s embarrassing, but we want a fair examination,” Singh said.

He added that the agency remained committed to conducting a transparent and credible examination process. “A fresh examination will be conducted soon to ensure fairness for all candidates,” he said.

Singh also said that the investigation would reveal where the lapses occurred and identify those responsible for the alleged leak.

Student anger and emotional distress

The cancellation triggered widespread anger, anxiety, and exhaustion among students and parents across the country. Many aspirants said repeated examination controversies were creating emotional stress and damaging trust in the system.

Students on social media described the re-examination as “mental torture” and questioned whether another leak could occur during the re-test.

Several aspirants demanded that NEET move to a Computer-Based Test format to improve security and reduce leak risks.

One student said, “I had been preparing for two years. I woke up happy thinking about my results, but by evening, we heard the exam had been cancelled. It is very difficult to mentally accept this now.”

Another student said, “We gave our 100 percent. We left no stone unturned. Now we will have to repeat everything again.”

A candidate from Jharkhand preparing in Patna for two years said, “It is not necessary that we will score the same marks next time as well.”

A student from Lucknow said, “We cannot do anything about it now that it has been suspended. We are disappointed... The NTA should change the medium of the exam... We will have to travel again.”

Parents also expressed concern over the financial and emotional burden on students studying away from home in expensive coaching hubs such as Kota and Sikar.

Political reactions intensify

The cancellation triggered strong reactions from opposition leaders and political parties across the country.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “The hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been crushed.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that repeated examination irregularities reflected systemic failures.

“The examination system under the Modi government has become a complete symbol of disorder, distrust, and chaos,” Kharge said.

Congress leader Tikaram Jully questioned why earlier complaints linked to the alleged leak were not acted upon.

“The NEET exam that has been suspended today, the police here received its complaints earlier, but they neglected them. Why did the Rajasthan police not register an FIR against this and consider it a paper leak? Its investigation should be held under the guidance of the judiciary... The paper mafia has its network across the country...” he said.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot demanded accountability and called for a judicial probe.

“You only order investigation and there is no end to it,” Pilot said while demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot described the issue as a “monumental problem” and questioned why no FIR had initially been filed despite complaints.

DMK leaders also launched sharp attacks on the central government and the NEET system itself. Spokesperson Saravanan accused the BJP of running a “Tughlaq darbar” and questioned how students would handle repeated stress caused by examination controversies.

“This is atrocious. This is organized loot. This is not the first time but the fourth or the fifth time the question paper leak happened,” he said.

Tamil Nadu Former Chief Minister MK Stalin described NEET as “a scam in itself” and renewed demands for medical admissions to be based on Class 12 marks instead of a centralized entrance examination.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also criticized the government. “The mafia involved in paper leaks and the leaders providing them protection are enemies of the country,” he said.

“People who cannot conduct an examination properly will run a government?” he asked.

Student protests spread

The National Students’ Union of India staged protests outside the Education Ministry near Shastri Bhawan in Delhi following the cancellation.

Student protesters accused the NTA of failing to protect the integrity of one of India’s largest entrance examinations. NSUI workers demanded transparency, accountability, and structural reforms to prevent future leaks.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad welcomed the cancellation and said the decision was necessary to maintain fairness and credibility in the examination process.

Medical associations and education experts react

The Federation of All India Medical Association strongly criticized the alleged irregularities and demanded strict accountability.

In a statement posted on X, FAIMA said its “hearts go out” to students who had “put their lives on hold” for the examination only to face “systemic negligence.”

The Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association in Telangana demanded strict prosecution of those involved and called for advanced digital safeguards, encrypted systems, and independent audits for future examinations.

Super 30 founder Anand Kumar described the development as “very unfortunate.” “This is a very unfortunate thing. Students lose morale every time something like this happens,” Kumar said.

He also urged stricter regulation of coaching centers. “It’s important to tighten the noose on coaching centers. There should be strict implementation of rules. The government must ensure tough measures like China,” he said.

Motion Education founder Nitin Vijay suggested that a Computer-Based Test system could improve security. “If paper leaks are happening repeatedly, the system needs to be made stronger. Shifting to a CBT-based system could be one solution,” Vijay said.

Recurring concerns over NEET

The controversy has revived memories of NEET UG 2024, when allegations involving paper leaks, unusual scoring patterns, grace marks, arrests, protests, and Supreme Court proceedings raised nationwide concern.

Following the 2024 controversy, a high-powered committee led by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan submitted 101 recommendations aimed at strengthening examination security.

The recommendations included sealed examination centers, digital infrastructure upgrades, reduced dependence on private logistics agencies, and gradual transition toward online testing systems.

Despite those recommendations, NEET UG 2026 continued as a pen-and-paper examination.

Questions over examination reforms

Critics have argued that repeated controversies expose deeper structural weaknesses in India’s competitive examination system.

The NTA was established in 2017 to build a secure, technology-driven national testing framework.

However, repeated allegations involving paper leaks, irregularities, grace marks, administrative lapses, and malpractice networks have weakened public confidence.

NEET remains one of India’s most competitive examinations, with around 108,915 MBBS seats available against more than 22 lakh aspirants.

With the cancellation now official, attention has shifted toward the re-examination schedule, the ongoing CBI probe, and increasing demands for long-term systemic reforms to restore trust in India’s national entrance examination system.