New Delhi, May 12: The Centre on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of question paper leaks and procedural irregularities, directing the National Testing Agency (NTA) to hold a fresh examination on dates to be announced later.
The Government has also entrusted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with a detailed inquiry into the alleged malpractice surrounding the medical entrance test conducted on May 3.
In an official statement, the NTA said the decision was taken after reviewing inputs received from central agencies and investigative findings shared by law enforcement authorities, which raised serious concerns regarding the fairness of the examination process.
“To uphold transparency and maintain confidence in the examination system, the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026, has been cancelled with the approval of the Government of India. A fresh examination will be organised separately,” the agency stated.
The NTA said continuing with the existing examination process would have compromised the credibility of the system.
The agency further confirmed that the Centre has asked the CBI to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the allegations linked to the examination. It assured full cooperation with the probe and said all necessary records and materials would be provided to investigators.
Expressing concern over the inconvenience caused to students and parents, the NTA maintained that safeguarding the integrity of national-level examinations remained the top priority.
The agency clarified that candidates who registered for the May 2026 examination would not be required to apply again. Existing application details and selected examination centres will remain valid for the re-test, and no additional examination fee will be charged.
It also announced that examination fees already paid by candidates would be refunded, while the re-examination would be conducted using the agency’s own administrative resources.
Fresh dates for the examination and revised admit card schedules are expected to be announced through official channels in the coming days.
NEET-UG serves as the common entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical programmes across the country. This year, the examination was conducted in pen-and-paper mode at more than 5,400 centres across 551 cities in India and 14 international locations, with nearly 22.79 lakh candidates appearing for the test.