National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 and announced that the exam will be held again, according to ANI.
The announcement came through an official statement released by NTA after days of growing controversy, online outrage, and investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the national medical entrance exam.
Also read: NEET-UG 2026 cancelled, exam to be re-conducted
According to the agency, the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India after inputs examined by NTA alongside findings shared by central law enforcement agencies.
And the wording of the statement made one thing very clear: authorities believe the integrity of the examination process had been compromised. “The present examination process could not be allowed to stand,” the agency said.
What NTA announced about NEET uG 2026 cancellation?
NTA said:
- NEET UG 2026 conducted on May 3 stands cancelled
- A re-examination will now be conducted on fresh dates
- New admit cards will be issued
- Existing registrations will remain valid
- Students will not have to register again
- No additional exam fee will be charged
- Fees already paid by candidates will be refunded
The agency also confirmed that all candidate data and exam centre preferences from the original May cycle will automatically carry forward to the new examination.
The fresh exam dates and admit card schedule will be announced through NTA’s official channels in the coming days.
Why was NEET cancelled?
While NTA did not directly use the words “paper leak” in its cancellation notice, the decision follows multiple reports of alleged malpractice linked to the exam.
The biggest developments came from Rajasthan, where the Special Operations Group (SOG) launched an investigation into a suspected NEET paper leak case.
According to reports, investigators allegedly recovered a handwritten “suggestion paper” in which around 120 questions reportedly matched the actual NEET paper — including nearly 90 Biology questions and around 30 Chemistry questions.
NTA stated that it first received inputs regarding alleged malpractice on the evening of May 7, four days after the examination.
The agency said those inputs were escalated to central agencies on May 8 for “independent verification and necessary action.”
Over the past few days, multiple detentions connected to the case were also reported in the media.
CBI inquiry ordered
In another major step, the Government of India has now decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry.
NTA said it will fully cooperate with the investigation and provide all records, materials, and technical assistance required by the agency.
“The effort of genuine students will not be devalued”
In its statement, NTA acknowledged the emotional impact the cancellation would have on students and families.
The agency said it understands that lakhs of candidates who prepared for months will now have to go through the stress of writing the examination again.
But it argued that allowing a compromised examination process to continue would have caused “greater and more lasting damage” to trust in the system.
Importantly, NTA also stressed that the honesty and hard work of the “very large majority of bona-fide aspirants” was never under question.
That line mattered to many students online, especially after days of uncertainty and rumours flooding social media.
What happens now?
For now, students do not need to submit fresh applications.
NTA has asked candidates and parents to rely only on official announcements and avoid misinformation circulating online.
The agency’s helpline details remain active:
- neet-ug@nta.ac.in
- 011-40759000
- 011-69227700
NEET UG 2026 re-exam date: When will re-exam happen?
The new NEET UG 2026 examination dates and revised admit card schedule are expected to be announced soon.
Until then, lakhs of aspirants across the country are left processing a reality nobody expected: after months of preparation, India’s biggest medical entrance exam is happening all over again.
