The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday, May 12 cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 examination, which was conducted on 3 May 2026 over paper leak allegations. The decision to cancel the examination comes after inputs examined by NTA in coordination with central agencies and investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies.
The agency will re-conduct of the test, with new examination dates to be announced separately, NTA said in a notification.
Will Students Be Required To Register And Pay Exam Fees?
As students await for more clarity on examination dates, NTA has clarified that the applicants will not be required to register again and no additonal examination fees will be charged. The students will also receive refunds on the fees paid already and the examination will be held using resourced from the agency.
"The registration data, candidature, and examination centres opted for in the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward to the re-conducted examination. No fresh registration will be required, and no additional examination fee will be levied. In addition, fees already paid, will be refunded to the students and the exam will be re-conducted using NTA's internal resources," the notification read.
Further updates on NEET UG 2026 will be issued through the official channels of the agency. Candidates and parents are requested to rely only on these official channels and to disregard unverified reports circulating on social media, NTA warned.
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About NEET UG Paper Leak
NTA said the decision was based on inputs examined in coordination with central agencies, along with investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies. The agency stated that these inputs, taken together, established that "the present examination process could not be allowed to stand." NTA addd that the cancellation was necessary to ensure transparency in the system.
CBI Inquiry Next
The Government has decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry over the . NTA has stated it will extend full cooperation to the bureau and provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires.
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