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Paper Leak: NEET UG 2026 Held on May 3 Cancelled; Fresh Dates Soon

SimpliCity News Team · 12 May 2026

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA), with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination held on May 3, 2026. The examination will now be re-conducted on dates that will be notified separately, reports confirmed.

The matter has also been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive probe into the alleged irregularities and possible malpractice linked to the examination process.

The decision marks a significant shift from the Centre’s earlier stand on the NEET controversy. Previously, the government had maintained that the alleged paper leak affected only a limited number of candidates and had opposed cancelling the examination, arguing that lakhs of students who appeared fairly should not suffer due to isolated incidents.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier stated that unlike the widespread paper leak incidents of 2004 and 2015, the present case was limited in scope and that the matter was also under consideration before the Supreme Court, whose verdict would be final.

However, following mounting concerns and further developments in the investigation, authorities have now opted to cancel the examination entirely and conduct a fresh NEET UG 2026 test nationwide.

The cancellation is expected to come as a major setback for lakhs of students who had spent months preparing for the examination. A re-examination is also likely to place tremendous mental pressure on candidates, while further delaying the medical admission process across the country.

NEET NTA CBI examination medical entrance education investigation malpractice paper leak

Paper Leak: NEET UG 2026 Held on May 3 Cancelled; Fresh Dates Soon

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