NEET UG held on May 3 cancelled, CBI probe ordered into alleged irregularities

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026, and announced that the exam will be re-conducted on fresh dates to be notified separately.

In a statement issued in continuation of its May 10 press release, the agency said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India after examining inputs in coordination with central agencies and reviewing investigative findings shared by law enforcement authorities.

According to NTA, the findings established that the existing examination process could not be allowed to stand, prompting the decision to cancel the examination in the interest of transparency and fairness.

Read here: NEET 2026 leak shock: 140 questions allegedly matched from Rajasthan ‘guess paper’

The agency further said that the Government of India has decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations linked to the examination process. NTA said it would fully cooperate with the probe and provide all required records and assistance.

Acknowledging the inconvenience caused to students and parents, NTA said the decision was taken to protect the credibility and trust associated with the national examination system, adding that allowing the examination to continue despite the findings would have caused greater long-term damage.

The agency clarified that registration data, candidature details and examination centres selected during the May 2026 cycle will remain valid for the re-conducted exam. No fresh registration process will be required and no additional examination fee will be charged.

NTA also announced that examination fees already paid by students will be refunded, while the fresh examination will be conducted using the agency’s internal resources.

The re-conducted examination dates and revised admit card schedule will be announced through official channels in the coming days. NTA has advised candidates and parents to rely only on official communications and avoid unverified information circulating on social media.

An investigation by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police on Monday revealed that a handwritten ‘guess paper’ or question bank was circulated in Sikar two days before the examination on May 3, 2026. This paper reportedly has 281 questions, out of which 140 questions were asked in the actual examination on May 3.

In NEET examination, each correct question carries 4 marks, so the fact that 140 questions were matched means that a paper worth approximately 560 marks was released before the exam. The examination itself is of 720 marks. Reports suggest that not only the questions, but also the sequence of options was the same as the original paper.