The NEET UG 2026 examination, held on 3 May 2026, has been officially cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The cancellation was announced on 12 May 2026 following confirmed allegations of a question paper leak before the exam. The Government of India has ordered a CBI probe into the matter. NTA has confirmed that a Re-NEET 2026 exam will be conducted on new dates, which will be announced separately on the official website neet.nta.nic.in.
NEET UG 2026 Cancellation – Quick Info
| Exam Name | NEET UG 2026 (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) |
| Exam Date (Cancelled) | 3 May 2026 |
| Cancellation Date | 12 May 2026 |
| Reason | Alleged Question Paper Leak |
| Re-Exam Date | To Be Announced (Expected June 2026) |
| Fresh Registration | Not Required |
| Registration Fee Refund | Yes – Full Refund Announced |
| CBI Probe | Active – Arrests Made |
| Students Affected | 22.79 Lakh (Approximately) |
| Official Website | neet.nta.nic.in |
22.79L Students Affected
135/180 Questions Leaked
15+ Arrested / Detained
4 Days Before Exam: Leak Began
🔗 Check Official NTA Notice 📅 Re-Exam Date Update
Why Was NEET UG 2026 Cancelled?
The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) discovered that a “guess paper” containing approximately 410 questions had been circulated among students on WhatsApp and Telegram channels as early as 4 days before the exam. These were sent under titles like “high probability questions,” “trusted source,” or “final selection” to avoid raising suspicion.
After comparing the circulated material with the actual NEET UG 2026 question paper, investigators found that approximately 135 out of 180 questions were present in the leaked guess papers — including all 45 Chemistry questions appearing in an uninterrupted, exact-match sequence.
Based on these findings shared by law enforcement and central agencies, NTA, with the approval of the Government of India, decided to cancel the entire examination in the interest of fairness and integrity.
🔍 Key Finding by Rajasthan SOG: After 36 unrelated questions, all 45 Chemistry questions in the circulated guess paper appeared in an exact, uninterrupted sequence — with no change in punctuation — matching the actual NEET UG 2026 paper.
How Did the NEET 2026 Paper Leak Happen?
According to investigators, the leak was not a cyber hack; it was an organised human chain. Here is the sequence of events as reported:
- April 29, 2026: Guess paper reportedly reached a counsellor’s mobile phone — 4 days before the exam.
- May 1 (Evening): A “guess paper” of approximately 410 questions was created and shared across Telegram channels.
- May 2 (Around 6 PM): An MBBS student in Kerala forwarded 300 questions to his father in Sikar, Rajasthan.
- May 2 (Night): The father shared the papers with students at a PG hostel in Sikar.
- May 3 (Exam Day): 22.79 lakh students wrote the exam across 5,400+ centres — unaware that the paper had already been circulated.
- May 12, 2026: NTA officially cancelled the exam. CBI probe ordered.
Papers reportedly spread across multiple cities including Jaipur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Dehradun, and Kerala. According to reports, the leaked papers were initially being sold for as much as ₹30 lakh.
CBI Probe & Arrests | Latest Update
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the case and has already made key arrests:
- Shubham Khairnar (age 30, Nandgaon, Maharashtra) – Detained by Nashik Police Crime Branch at the request of Rajasthan Police; now in CBI custody.
- Dhananjay Lokhande (Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra) – Arrested by CBI. Suspected to have supplied the leaked question paper to Khairnar.
- Rakesh Kumar Mandawariya (Sikar) – Counsellor accused of sending papers to the Kerala MBBS student.
- Avinash Lamba & Manish Yadav (Jaipur) – Detained in connection with the case.
- Around 15+ individuals from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, and Dehradun have been detained.
CBI teams are also examining Telegram groups, coaching institute links, digital records, and financial transactions. A parent in Latur also filed a complaint that a private coaching institute’s mock test contained 42 questions matching the actual NEET 2026 paper.
NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam Date – What We Know
✅ CONFIRMED BY NTA: NEET UG 2026 re-exam will be conducted. Fresh dates to be announced on neet.nta.nic.in. Re-exam expected in June 2026.
NTA has officially confirmed that the NEET UG 2026 re-exam will be held. Here are the confirmed details so far:
Re-NEET 2026 – Key Details
| Re-Exam Status | Announced – Date Pending |
| Expected Date | June 2026 (Official date to be confirmed) |
| Fresh Registration | NOT Required |
| Registration Fee | Full Refund + No Additional Fee |
| Admit Card | New admit card will be issued by NTA |
| Exam Centre | May change; details to be notified |
| Syllabus & Pattern | Unchanged – Same as original exam |
| Where to Check | neet.nta.nic.in |
What Should NEET 2026 Students Do Now?
Click the official apply link below to monitor the latest announcements regarding the re-exam date and new admit card releases.
Important Links – NEET UG 2026
Official Links
| NTA NEET Official Website | neet.nta.nic.in |
| NTA Official Website | www.nta.ac.in |
| NTA Cancellation Notice | Click Here (Check Official Site) |
| Re-NEET 2026 Admit Card | To Be Released – Check neet.nta.nic.in |
| NTA Help Desk | 011-40759000 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – NEET UG 2026
Q1. Why did the NTA cancel the NEET UG 2026 exam?
Ans. The exam was officially scrapped on 12 May 2026 after authorities verified a massive question paper leak. Investigations revealed that 135 out of 180 questions were floating around on Telegram and WhatsApp groups days before the test.
Q2. When will the NEET UG 2026 re-exam take place?
Ans. While the exact date hasn’t been locked in yet, the NTA is expected to hold the re-test sometime in June 2026. Keep an eye on neet.nta.nic.in for the official schedule.
Q3. Do I have to fill out the application form again for the re-exam?
Ans. Not at all. You don’t need to register again. The NTA will use your previous application details and center preferences for the upcoming exam.
Q4. Are they refunding the original registration fees?
Ans. Yes, everyone who paid for the cancelled exam will get a full refund. Plus, you won’t be asked to pay anything extra to sit for the new test.
Q5. Will the syllabus change for the upcoming test?
Ans. No, you can continue studying the same material. The exam pattern, syllabus, and overall difficulty will match what was originally planned for NEET UG 2026.
Q6. Has anyone been caught for the paper leak?
Ans. Yes, the CBI has made several arrests, including Shubham Khairnar and Dhananjay Lokhande from Maharashtra. In total, more than 15 people have been detained across various cities like Jaipur, Sikar, and Dehradun.
