New Delhi: The National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3 and announced that the medical entrance test will be conducted
again, according to ANI. The move comes after days of controversy, student anger online and investigation into alleged irregularities linked to the exam.
For lakhs of medical aspirants, this is not just another exam update. It means more waiting, more stress and, yes, more revision. Many students had already started thinking about answer keys, cut-offs and college hopes. Now, the whole exam cycle has been pushed back into uncertainty.
In continuation of its press release dated 10 May 2026, the National Testing Agency wishes to inform candidates, parents, and members of the public of the following decisions taken in respect of NEET (UG) 2026. NTA had, on 8 May 2026, referred the matters then under consideration…
— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) May 12, 2026
Why has NEET UG 2026 been cancelled?
NTA has cancelled the May 3 examination after inputs related to alleged malpractice. The agency said it first received information on the evening of May 7, four days after the exam.
NTA said those inputs were sent to central agencies on May 8 for “independent verification and necessary action”. The agency has not directly used the words “paper leak” in its cancellation notice.
The controversy grew after reports from Rajasthan, where the Special Operations Group started investigating a suspected NEET paper leak case. According to the given context, investigators allegedly recovered a handwritten “suggestion paper” in which around 120 questions reportedly matched the actual NEET paper. This included nearly 90 Biology questions and around 30 Chemistry questions.
CBI inquiry ordered into NEET UG row
The Government of India has decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a wider inquiry.
NTA said it will fully cooperate with the probe and share all records, materials and technical help needed by the agency.
In its statement, NTA said it understands the emotional burden on students and families. It said lakhs of candidates who studied for months will now have to appear again. The agency added that allowing a compromised exam process to continue would have caused “greater and more lasting damage” to trust in the system.
NTA also said the hard work of the “very large majority of bona-fide aspirants” was never under question.
What should students do now?
Students do not need to submit fresh applications. NTA has said candidate data and exam centre preferences from the original May cycle will automatically carry forward to the new exam.
Key points for students:
- Fresh NEET UG 2026 exam date will be announced soon
- Revised admit card schedule will be shared later
- No fresh application is needed for now
- Students should follow only official NTA updates
- NTA helplines remain active at neet-ug@nta.ac.in, 011-40759000 and 011-69227700
For now, students and parents are waiting for the new date. The biggest advice is simple: do not trust random forwards. Check official NTA channels, keep documents ready and, painful as it sounds, keep the books open.
