The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3, announcing that a fresh examination will be held on new dates to be declared soon. The decision comes after inputs from central agencies and law enforcement authorities indicated irregularities linked to a suspected paper leak.
In its official statement, the NTA said the exam process “could not be allowed to stand” in its current form after reviewing findings shared by investigative agencies. The cancellation will impact lakhs of medical aspirants across the country.
The matter had already been referred to central agencies on May 8 for verification, and following their inputs, the Government of India approved both the cancellation and a re-examination. The case has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a detailed probe into the alleged leak and related irregularities.
The NTA has assured students that they will not need to register again for the re-test. Existing application data, candidature details, and exam centre preferences will be carried forward for the new exam cycle. Fresh admit cards will be issued before the re-examination, which will be announced through official channels shortly.
The agency also clarified that no additional fee will be charged for the re-test. Students who had already paid the examination fee will receive refunds, and the re-exam will be conducted using NTA’s internal resources.
Acknowledging the inconvenience caused, the NTA said the decision was taken in the interest of maintaining fairness and restoring trust in the national examination system. It added that proceeding with the compromised exam would have caused “greater and more lasting damage” to credibility.
Authorities have urged students and parents to rely only on official updates and avoid misinformation circulating on social media.