NTA Cancels NEET 2026 Exam Conducted on May 3 Amid Paper Leak Row, Fresh Dates Soon

New Delhi, 12th May 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 examination held on May 3 following allegations of a paper leak and inputs shared by central investigative agencies. The NTA announced that the medical entrance test will be conducted again on fresh dates to be notified later.

The decision was taken after the agency examined inputs in coordination with central agencies and received findings from law enforcement authorities indicating that “the present examination process could not be allowed to stand”, according to an official statement issued by the NTA.

The Centre has also decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive probe into the allegations surrounding the examination.

In its statement, the NTA said the move was aimed at preserving transparency and public trust in the national examination system, even though it acknowledged that reconducting the exam would cause inconvenience to lakhs of candidates and their families.

“The decision has been taken because the alternative would have caused greater and more lasting damage to that trust,” the agency stated.

The NTA said all registration details, candidature data and examination centres selected by students for the May 2026 cycle will remain valid for the re-examination. Candidates will not be required to register again or pay any additional examination fee.

The agency further announced that fees already paid by candidates will be refunded and the fresh examination will be conducted using NTA’s internal resources.

The revised examination schedule and fresh admit card dates will be announced through the official channels of the agency in the coming days. The NTA also advised candidates and parents to rely only on official communication and avoid unverified information circulating on social media.

Earlier, the agency had referred the matter to central agencies on May 8 for independent verification and necessary action after allegations related to irregularities in the examination surfaced.