Shillong, May 12: The National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam, held on May 3, after a wave of allegations of a paper leak and suspected malpractice raised new doubts for lakhs of medical aspirants across the nation. Fresh dates for a retest are expected to be declared later.
The accusations gathered strength when the Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group allegedly found over 100 questions that matched the real NEET paper in a “mock test” circulated before the examination. Officials now suspect that a wider multi-state nexus might be involved in the leak.
The NTA, however, denied leak rumors prior and immediately post the exam, calling certain social media claims “fake” and maintaining that the exam was held under stringent security arrangements that included biometric verification and layered security systems.
Following an intensification of accusations in the last few days, the issue found its way into national politics, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launching an attack on the government on Monday and questioning the integrity of India’s exam system, while other parties demanded an investigation and accountability.
Students in Meghalaya and the rest of the Northeast, which saw thousands take the exam, also face uncertainty due to the cancellations, including many whose exam centres were located in Shillong. Authorities in Meghalaya had issued traffic alerts and made special arrangements for the NEET candidates due to the predicted congestion around exam centres.
The incident now brings back the memories of the national outrage that surrounded irregularities in competitive examinations last year, with students and parents yet again questioning the security and integrity of national entrance tests in India. The government has reportedly ordered an investigation into the matter and central agencies are expected to investigate the entire circulation chain of the leaked paper and any likely organised networks involved.
