NTA Announces Retest for Affected Students

The agency issued an official statement admitting that the test was disrupted and candidates underwent stress due to it. Adding further, it said that candidates, who have had biometric registration, appeared at their exam centres, but weren't able to finish the test because of the glitch, will be given an opportunity for examination. A fresh schedule will be released soon on the NTA website.

“We know today's unfortunate technical disruption caused distress for some CUET (UG) 2026 candidates," NTA said.

TCS Asked to Submit Cause Report

Elaborating on the details, NTA clarified that technical issues started at some centres during Shift-1, which delayed the examination. It confirmed that the technical service provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS iON) was asked to immediately provide a root cause analysis report and the report will be submitted by them forthwith.

"TCS has reported that a technical glitch at their end delayed the commencement of CUET UG 2026 at some centres on Saturday. The issue has since been resolved, and the exam is being conducted with full compensatory time so that no candidate is disadvantaged,” NTA added.

Most Candidates Completed CUET UG Exam

NTA assured that after the restoration of the technical glitch, more than 95 per cent students were able to write their exams in full. However, 3,765 candidates who attended their examination centers and completed biometrics, have chosen to leave before restart of exam. As a one-time measure, a fresh examination will be conducted for them.

Exam Timings Revised After Delay

Earlier in the day, NTA had confirmed that a technical error delayed the CUET UG 2026 in several exam centers. The issue was resolved and students were provided with compensatory time.

The timing of afternoon exams were also changed to 4:00 PM and reporting at 2:30 PM instead of 3:00 PM. For the morning shifts, students were given the complete time of the paper and not allowed to leave until its completion.

NEET Row Adds to NTA Concerns

This is the second exam failure for the NTA in as many weeks, especially when students are already facing the heat after the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 following various irregularities and alleged paper leak. The exam, held on May 3, has been postponed to June 21, and a CBI probe is ordered by the Ministry of Education.

Atishi Targets Centre Over CUET Chaos

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi has launched a sharp attack on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing the CUET delay as yet another example of incompetence.

"Today CUET has been delayed due to a ‘technical issue’. Lakhs of students were to take the exam in all parts of India today and after waiting for hours, such notices have been put up outside all centres. Remarkable incompetence @dpradhanbjp!” Atishi wrote on X.

The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 and transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by itself, according to the NTA, conveyed the seriousness with which examination sanctity is looked upon by itself as well as by the Union government.

Court Demands Responsibility In NEET

The court said that accountability needs to be fixed for such catastrophic fiascos that take place on the lives of lakhs of students.

“The real problem will not stop till there is actual accountability. Not in terms of so and so will be liable, it will be effective when we know which individual shoulders the responsibility. Unless you identify the specific duty-bearers, it will be difficult,” Justice Narasimha added.

Strict Security Measures For NEET

The National Testing Agency (NTA) told the Supreme Court that it had instituted wide structural and security reforms following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scam and cancellation of the examination.

A High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC), in a meeting dated 17th April 2026, has analysed the preparation of NEET-UG 2026 and recommended an array of safeguards under various pre-examination, examination and post-examination phases.

CCTV Monitoring For NEET Centres

These measures include: compulsory CCTV checks and retention of footage for a minimum of 90 days, mock drills to be carried out in examination centers, weather contingency plans, checks on power backup systems, provision of emergency medical facilities, strict physical verification of centers a week prior to examination. Further, the HPSC suggested, there should be post-examination forensic examination of CCTVs to identify malicious activity.

Secure Transport Plan For Papers

Question paper trunks would be sent through India Post with chain-of-custody protocols. Question papers from the press would be transported to nodal hubs with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), then to district custodians via India Post and further to examination centers with the District Police.

Further the affidavit has added that Confidential Operations (CONOPs) have been operationalized. Question paper setters will work in isolated rooms free from Internet/mobile access and a separate chamber will be dedicated for confidential work in the office.

Court Orders Document Disclosure

The Singapore court ordered Raveendran to present himself before the authorities, pay S$90,000 for legal expenses and produce documents proving he owns Beeaar Investco Pte, a company that held stakes in a related firm, reported Bloomberg.

The verdict is the first significant legal setback for the founder of Byju's, which was once India's most valued startup and is grappling with investor disputes, debt litigation and operational problems amid an ongoing post-pandemic decline.

Byju's Founder Denies Any Wrongdoing Claims

Raveendran said in a statement after the ruling that settlement talks with lenders and investors like GLAS Trust and QIA were close to conclusion and termed the legal action an unnecessary escalation.

“The lenders, including GLAS Trust and QIA, as well as other stakeholders, have been in discussions with the founders and other parties. A settlement has been agreed in principle, with only a few residual minor issues left to be finalised between certain parties. I have no role in those remaining issues,” he said.

“As part of the settlement discussions, the parties have also acknowledged that there has been no wrongdoing on my part or on the part of the other founders. That is why it is deeply unfortunate that this matter is being used to create a contrary public narrative at this sensitive stage,” he added.

Raveendran Targets Lenders On Hiding Information

This decision comes months after a Delaware court in December 2025 overturned its prior $1 billion judgment against Raveendran, following the review of fresh submissions filed by a motion seeking correction of a November 20 ruling. The court noted damages had not been properly assessed and ordered fresh proceedings.

Raveendran's team argued that GLAS Trust and lenders had concealed or misrepresented critical information during the legal proceedings, which contributed to the collapse of the edtech business and erosion of enterprise value.

Byju’s Rise During COVID Pandemic

Byju's, founded in 2011 as Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, started as an online learning platform for school education and exam preparation and became immensely popular during the Covid-19 pandemic. The company acquired firms like Aakash Educational Services, Great Learning and Epic to expand its presence. It became the face of India's startup boom, attracting billions from global investors. The company's aggressive growth was fueled by spending and debt rather than profitability. 

Notable projects on display include the upcycling and recycling of everyday materials, introducing the idea of ‘repurposing’ raw materials into usable, environment-friendly products. Another project is anchored in sensitizing students to designing ecologically responsive architecture in ecologically sensitive areas. The exhibited work also showcases projects addressing issues and complexities in urban areas, such as the lack of public spaces for communities, missing footpaths, and more. These projects have cultivated ideas around designing public spaces between and around buildings, emphasizing the improvement of the quality of public spaces.

“This year’s Spring Semester Exhibition showcases excellent work undertaken by our students of SEDA, exhibiting some of the finest and most relevant projects of our time,” said Smt. Tejal Amin, Chairperson, Navrachana Education Society.

“Through students’ works, it is evident that the projects undertaken this semester have generated curiosity, everyday awareness, and sensitivity towards repurposing, ecology, society, and people-centric public spaces,” said Prof. Pratyush Shankar, Provost, Navrachana University and Dean, SEDA.

This exhibition will open on Wednesday, 20th May, at 5:30 pm and will remain open to the public on Thursday, 21st May 2026, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. A guest lecture by Venkat Srinivasan, founding member and co-director of the Milli Archives Foundation, Bangalore, has also been organized on 20th May 2026. The exhibition presents an excellent opportunity for aspiring students intending to join design programmes to gain better insight into the type of work undertaken in these programmes.

For more information - https://nuv.ac.in/schools/environmental-design-and-architecture/

The board has announced two changes. The first change is about making the question papers shorter. The second change is about taking action against people who cheat with answer sheets and marks.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education wants to make exams less stressful for students. The board chairman, Trigun Kulkarni says that the changes will help students and make the exams better.

Shorter Question Papers to Reduce Student Stress

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education is planning to make the exam papers simpler and smaller.

Some question papers are very long up to 10 or 11 pages. This makes it hard for students to manage during exams. The long papers also cost a lot to print every year.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education spends around ₹30 crore on printing exam papers each year.

To fix this problem a special committee looked into the matter. Suggested a new way of doing things.

The new plan is to make question papers shorter three or four pages and print on both sides. This will save a lot of money 60% and use less paper.

Trigun Kulkarni says that the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education wants to make exams easier for students to understand and less stressful.

The new format will also make the questions easier to read. The main questions and sub-questions will be, on the page making the paper more organised.

The new format will have:

Better question sequencing

A clearer marking scheme

formatting

An improved numbering system

 Easy-to-read multiple-choice sections

The officials think that these changes will help students focus better during exams and avoid confusion.

Stricter Laws Against Exam Fraud and Mark Manipulation

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education is also planning to take action against exam fraud.

The current law, the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act, 1982 mainly deals with paper leaks and cheating.In recent years there have been many cases of answer sheet tampering and fake revaluation.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education wants to make these crimes more serious.

Kulkarni says that the current laws are not strong enough. So the board is trying to change the laws.If the changes are approved people who cheat with answer sheets and marks can be. Punished without delay.

Education experts think that these changes can make the exams more transparent and fair.

The changes can help students by reducing pressure and making sure that people who cheat are punished.

Rahul Gandhi said, “Twenty-two lakh NEET kids have been cheated. Yet Modi ji isn't uttering a single word. Remove Dharmendra Pradhan ji right now, or take responsibility yourself.”

"Dharmendra Pradhan ji, India's Education Minister, says, 'I have nothing to do with it.' The committee had made recommendations, which he threw into the dustbin. He said, 'Opposition people are sitting in the committee, it doesn't mean anything, there is no need for it.' The truth is that you have damaged the core, the center of India. The Prime Minister should give an immediate order that Dharmendra Pradhan ji should resign, he should be sacked, and the people who are guilty should be caught and put in jail," he added.

Sikar Flat Linked to NEET Scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) investigation has put Rajasthan's Sikar district under close scanner regarding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The probe agency has apprehended three individuals in this connection. According to official sources, the accused were suspected of procuring a 'guess' paper, which was almost similar to the NEET paper and making its copies and providing it to the coaching centres which then distribute the question papers among candidates. 

Officials further traced a flat in Sikar which is suspected of being used as a center of coordination where the distribution of papers were conducted and candidates were communicated to. 

Pune Teacher Arrested After Probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a kingpin from Maharashtra over the Biology questions in the NEET-UG 2026 test. The Kingpin, identified as Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a botany teacher at Pune, was employed as an expert by the National Testing Agency.

The agency stated that the accused made recruitment of candidates who would have given the NEET examinations with the assistance of Manisha Wagmare.

NTA Cancels Disputed NEET-UG 2026 Exam

The National testing agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 test that was conducted on May 3 after the discovery of evidence pointing out similarities in the question papers conducted that day with those which was already circulated on the prior date.

After investigating the issue, the examination results were postponed, and the entire process was transferred to the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI). The rescheduled test is expected to be held on June 21.

The Botany teacher from Maharashtra was arrested in Delhi after being questioned for many hours by the CBI. She was granted access to both Botany and Zoology question papers in her capacity as an expert associated with the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Manisha Accused of Sharing NEET Questions

According to sources, the accused Manisha Mandhare was associated with the Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, located in Shivajinagar, Pune. Sources claimed that Mandhare had been contributing to the preparation of NEET question papers for the past five to six years. 

Mandhare was involved in preparing Botany and Zoology sections of NEET UG 2026 examination and was at that time in the service of the aforementioned Pune college. The allegation is that the investigation system enabled her to gain unrestricted access to the questions during the examination.

Mandhare Conducted Classes at Her Residence

The CBI claimed that she gathered students for the NEET entrance examination through Manisha Wagmare of Pune, who had already been taken into custody in May on the 14th. According to the CBI, Manisha conducted special coaching for students in her home where she leaked some Botany and Zoology questions and asked the students to copy them in their notebooks and textbooks.

They added that the majority of those questions appeared in the NEET-UG 2026 conducted on May 3 (now cancelled) and also that those had matches with the original question paper.

Nine Accused Arrested After Probe

The investigation is spreading over many states. Six locations were searched and laptop, mobile phones, bank details and various documents seized in the past 24 hours and their digital and financial analysis is on. Thus far nine persons are under arrest in different places like Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar. Many accused have been remanded to police custody.

Viral 55% Result Cake Divides Internet

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Supporters Say Marks Are Not Everything In Life

Social Media Also Filled With Trolls And Class Jokes

Kulkarni Linked to NEET Paper Setting

PV Kulkarni was an integral part of the examination process of the NTA (which organized the examination) and thus, had the answers and questions of the entrance test which was conducted on May 3rd. 

He was one of the main setters of the NEET question paper over many years. The former college professor was apprehended by the central agency on the evening of Thursday, May 14th. 

Kulkarni Held NEET Coaching Sessions

Investigations showed that Kulkarni, aided by another accused Manisha Waghmare, organized coaching classes for students who paid to get the NEET examination questions in the last week of April. Waghmare was arrested by the central agency on Thursday, May 14th as well. The students used to attend private training sessions at this Pune home. 

In these exclusive lessons Kulkarni wrote down the questions, the given answer choices, and the correct answers in their notebooks, and the written questions exactly matched the official question paper set on May 3rd. 

Eight Accused Arrested in Leak Case

Currently, 7 suspects have been arrested from Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar in connection to the case. The latest arrest means that 8 persons have been taken into custody to date.

The first seven arrested had been brought before court, and were remanded for seven days into police custody, so the authorities can obtain further details about the paper leak. Those arrested on Thursday are to be presented before a Pune court, and will eventually be brought to Delhi for more proceedings, so that the transit remand can be procured. 

NEET Re-Exam To Be Conducted in June

The undergraduate admissions test which was conducted on May 3rd, was cancelled on the 12th, due to allegations of a question paper leak, the Center has since handed the case over to the CBI for further investigations. The NEET UG 2026 will be re-conducted on June 21st between 2PM to 5:15PM.

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.