New Delhi(India) May 12: In an unprecedented turn of events, on Tuesday, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 has been cancelled. The decision came in light of allegations of the question paper being leaked the night prior to the May 3 examination. 

The exam, which is mandatory for all undergraduate medical admissions in India, will be re-conducted on new dates, the announcement of which will be made shortly. 

NTA Cancels NEET UG 2026 examination

The National Testing Agency said the cancellation was in accordance with the need to preserve the transparency and sanctity of the national examination and evaluation system and had received the sanction of the government.

"On the basis of inputs subsequently examined by the National Testing Agency and investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies, the NTA, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3," the agency said.

No Fresh Registration for Students Required

Despite the difficult situation created by the re-examination to the students and their respective families, the same was inevitable for protection of the sanctity of the national examination system and maintenance of the people's trust in it. 

The NTA added that the registration details, candidatures and center locations will also remain unchanged, so students will not be required to register or pay any additional fee. The exam itself will be re-conducted with NTA's own resources. 

Government Orders CBI Inquiry into Leak Allegations

The central government has also mandated a CBI inquiry to investigate the alleged discrepancies surrounding the exam. 

“The Government of India has further decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations therein. NTA will extend full cooperation to the Bureau and will provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires," the agency said.

Guess Paper Claims Spark Integrity Concerns

This comes after evidence was found indicating that a so-called "guess paper," that supposedly contains most of the same questions as the real exam, was made available to students prior to the test. According to NTA's statement regarding the cancellations, it made this decision due to the fact that the inputs from central agencies and law enforcement officials demonstrated a lack of transparency and faith in the examination system.