Two days after NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled over alleged paper leaks, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday evening chaired the first high-level meeting with senior officials to discuss
the upcoming re-examination. At a press conference, Dharmendra Pradhan stated that repeated paper leaks forced the NTA to cancel the exam to ensure that deserving students’ right to secure seats in medical colleges is protected and that undeserving candidates do not take their place.
The guess paper contained questions similar to those in the main exam, and investigations began immediately. “We did not want any undeserving candidate to clear the exam with the help of the education mafia and take the place of deserving candidates. We had earlier stated that we follow a zero-tolerance approach, and accordingly, we had formed the Radhakrishnan committee,” Pradhan said. However, despite this, repeated paper leaks occurred, and therefore we decided to cancel the paper this time, he added.
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The re-exam has been announced for June 21. The original exam was held on May 3. By May 7th, the NTA received an objection from a source claiming that some questions appearing in the actual paper were already present in a guess paper. Pradhan added that the Centre immediately discussed and investigated the matter. By May 12, within three to four days, it became clear that the questions had been leaked under the guise of a guess paper, he added. Students need not pay any extra fees for the upcoming exam and they will be given 15 minutes additional time for the exam.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident and have had to make a difficult decision, keeping the students’ futures in mind. We have received many suggestions,” Pradhan said, adding that the responsibility for transportation for the NEET exam will be discussed with all the Chief Ministers, keeping the June rainy season in mind.
He further added that the CBI has now taken over the investigation into the paper leak case. Interrogation of the five accused will begin today at the CBI headquarters. All five invloved were brought there late yesterday evening in court custody. Three different investigating officers will question them in turn. In addition, two other accused, arrested in Maharashtra, will be brought to Delhi today on transit remand.
He ensured that this time the exam would be held without any paper leak. He further added that the decision to cancel the exam had to be taken so that meritorious students are not left behind. “CBI has rightly said… no one will be spared. Whether someone is within the NTA or outside it, no one will be spared,” he stated.
