NEET UG 2026 – Paper Leak, Exam Cancelled
Last Updated: 12 May 2026 | In a major development that has shocked millions of medical aspirants across India, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026. The cancellation comes after the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) confirmed a paper leak — with over 120 questions from the actual exam paper found matching a handwritten “guess paper” that had been circulating in Sikar district as early as 1 May 2026, two days before the exam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been handed the probe. A fresh re-examination date will be announced separately by NTA.
📌 Breaking: NEET UG 2026 (held on 3 May 2026) officially CANCELLED by NTA with Government of India approval | Reason: Paper leak confirmed in Rajasthan | CBI probe ordered | Re-exam date to be announced | Registration data and exam centres carried forward automatically
NEET UG 2026 Cancellation – Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Exam Cancelled | NEET UG 2026 (conducted 3 May 2026) |
| Cancellation Announced By | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Approved By | Government of India |
| Reason for Cancellation | Paper Leak — confirmed by Rajasthan SOG |
| Questions Leaked | 120+ out of 410 questions matched circulated material |
| Leak Origin | Sikar district, Rajasthan — circulated 1 May 2026 |
| Investigating Agency | CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) |
| Total Candidates Affected | ~23 lakh registered candidates |
| Re-Exam Date | To be announced separately by NTA |
| Registration Data | Carried forward automatically — no fresh registration needed |
| Official Website | neet.nta.nic.in |
What Exactly Happened – The Paper Leak Story
The controversy began when the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) launched an investigation after reports emerged that a handwritten “guess paper” containing approximately 400 questions was being circulated in Rajasthan’s Sikar district on WhatsApp groups on 1 May 2026 — two full days before the exam.
When investigators compared the circulated material with the actual NEET UG 2026 question paper (held on 3 May), they found a shocking match of 120 to 140 questions — primarily from Biology and Chemistry. Some reports place the matching figure as high as 140 out of 410 total questions.
NTA, which conducted the exam on 3 May with what it described as “full security protocols” including GPS-tracked paper transport, initially denied any breach. However, the scale of the match found by Rajasthan SOG made the cancellation unavoidable. The Government of India subsequently approved the cancellation and handed the investigation to the CBI.
NTA Official Statement – Key Points
- NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026 is officially cancelled
- The decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India
- A fresh examination will be conducted — re-exam date to be announced separately
- Registration data, candidature, and exam centre preferences filled in the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward automatically to the re-conducted exam
- NTA is fully supporting the CBI investigation into the paper leak
What This Means for the 23 Lakh Affected Candidates
- You do NOT need to register again. All registration data, application details, and exam centre preferences are automatically carried forward to the re-exam.
- Your admit card from the May 3 exam will not be valid for the re-exam — a fresh admit card will be issued closer to the new exam date.
- No fees will be charged again. The re-exam will be conducted at no additional cost to candidates.
- MBBS admissions for 2026 will be delayed — counselling and seat allotment timelines will shift based on when the re-exam is held and results are declared.
- Keep monitoring neet.nta.nic.in for the official re-exam date announcement.
CBI Probe – What It Means
This is not the first time NEET has faced a paper leak controversy. In 2024, NEET UG was mired in a similar scandal — with the Supreme Court ultimately declining to cancel the exam due to lack of evidence of “systemic breach.” This time, the evidence appears far more concrete — the Rajasthan SOG has documented matches between the leaked material and the actual paper, making the CBI probe both inevitable and critical.
The CBI will investigate: who leaked the paper, through which chain, how many students benefited, and whether the breach was localised or nationwide. The outcome of the probe will likely shape how NEET is conducted in future years — and may accelerate calls for structural reforms to the exam.
About NEET UG – Key Details Every Aspirant Must Know
For those new to the exam or revisiting it after the cancellation, here is a complete overview of what NEET UG is and what the re-exam will look like:
What is NEET UG?
NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate) is the single national entrance exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS), BVSc, and other medical undergraduate courses in India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is mandatory for admission to all government and private medical colleges across the country.
NEET UG 2026 – Exam Pattern
| Subject | Sections | Questions | Marks |
| Physics | Section A (35) + Section B (15) | 50 (attempt 45) | 180 |
| Chemistry | Section A (35) + Section B (15) | 50 (attempt 45) | 180 |
| Biology (Botany + Zoology) | Section A (35) + Section B (15) | 100 (attempt 90) | 360 |
| Total | 200 (attempt 180) | 720 |
- Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Marking: +4 for correct answer | –1 for wrong answer | 0 for unattempted
- Mode: Offline (pen and paper)
- Language: 13 languages including Hindi, English, and regional languages
Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
| Minimum Age | 17 years (as on 31 December of admission year) |
| Maximum Age | No upper age limit (as per Supreme Court ruling) |
| Qualification | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology |
| Minimum Marks (General) | 50% in PCB in Class 12 |
| Minimum Marks (SC/ST/OBC) | 40% in PCB in Class 12 |
| Minimum Marks (PwD) | 45% in PCB in Class 12 |
| Nationality | Indian nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, Foreign nationals |
| Attempts | Unlimited (no cap on number of attempts) |
NEET UG 2026 – Registration Data
| Detail | Number |
| Total Registered Candidates (2026) | ~23 lakh |
| Female Candidates | ~13.33 lakh |
| Male Candidates | ~9.47 lakh |
| Total MBBS Seats (India) | ~1.08–1.18 lakh |
| Total Medical Seats (MBBS + BDS + AYUSH) | ~2.5 lakh+ |
| NEET Qualifying Candidates (2025) | ~12 lakh |
Previous Year NEET UG Cutoff (General Category)
| Year | UR Cutoff Percentile | Approx. Cutoff Marks (out of 720) |
| NEET 2025 | 50th percentile | ~137 marks |
| NEET 2024 | 50th percentile | ~164 marks |
| NEET 2023 | 50th percentile | ~137 marks |
| NEET 2022 | 50th percentile | ~117 marks |
| MBBS Government College (General) | — | 600–650+ marks typically required |
NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam – What to Expect
- New exam date will be announced on neet.nta.nic.in — check regularly
- Fresh admit cards will be issued — the 3 May admit card is now invalid
- Same syllabus and pattern — the re-exam will follow the exact same format as the cancelled exam
- Enhanced security is expected — given two consecutive years of controversy, NTA will be under enormous pressure to conduct a clean, tamper-proof exam
- MBBS counselling 2026 will be delayed — MCC counselling timelines will shift accordingly
- Candidates are advised to continue preparation without a break — use this time to strengthen weak areas
NEET Controversy – A Troubling Pattern
This cancellation follows a deeply concerning pattern. In 2024, NEET UG was marred by a paper leak in Bihar and Jharkhand, grace marks controversy affecting 1,563 students, and a Supreme Court battle that ultimately upheld the exam. The Supreme Court declined to cancel the 2024 exam stating there was no “systemic breach.” The 2024 case prompted the Government of India to set up an expert committee which recommended sweeping reforms to NTA’s examination process.
Those reforms were apparently insufficient. The 2026 cancellation — with evidence of 120+ leaked questions matching the actual paper — represents an even more serious breach. This has once again ignited the debate around:
- Whether NTA is structurally capable of conducting a fair national exam of this scale
- Whether NEET should be decentralised or replaced with state-level exams
- Whether the offline pen-and-paper format makes NEET inherently vulnerable to leaks
- What criminal accountability exists for those who profit from leaking exam papers
What Should NEET Aspirants Do Right Now?
- Do NOT panic. Your registration is safe and will be carried forward. You will not lose your attempt or fee.
- Keep studying. The re-exam will have the same syllabus and pattern. Use this unexpected extra time to revise weak chapters — especially Biology, which carries 360 out of 720 marks.
- Monitor neet.nta.nic.in daily for the re-exam date announcement.
- Do not trust unofficial sources claiming a new exam date — wait for the official NTA announcement.
- Bookmark rozgarofficial.com — we will update the moment the re-exam date is officially confirmed.
Important Links – NEET UG 2026
| Resource | Link |
| NTA Official Website | nta.ac.in |
| NEET UG Official Portal | neet.nta.nic.in |
| MCC Counselling (MBBS) | mcc.nic.in |
Frequently Asked Questions – NEET UG 2026 Cancelled
Q1. Why was NEET UG 2026 cancelled?
NEET UG 2026 was cancelled due to a confirmed paper leak. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) found that a handwritten guess paper containing 120–140 questions matching the actual exam paper had been circulating in Sikar, Rajasthan on WhatsApp groups two days before the exam (1 May 2026). The Government of India approved the cancellation and handed the investigation to the CBI.
Q2. Do I need to register again for the NEET UG re-exam?
No. NTA has confirmed that all registration data, candidature details, and exam centre preferences from the May 2026 cycle will be automatically carried forward to the re-exam. You do not need to register again or pay any additional fee.
Q3. When will the NEET UG 2026 re-exam be conducted?
The re-exam date has not been officially announced yet. NTA has stated that the date will be announced separately. Monitor neet.nta.nic.in and rozgarofficial.com for the latest updates.
Q4. Will the NEET UG re-exam have the same syllabus and pattern?
Yes. The re-exam will follow the exact same syllabus, exam pattern, and marking scheme as the original NEET UG 2026 exam — Physics, Chemistry, and Biology for a total of 720 marks.
Q5. Will MBBS admissions 2026 be delayed?
Yes. The cancellation and re-exam will push back the NEET UG 2026 result declaration, which in turn will delay MCC counselling and MBBS seat allotment for the 2026–27 academic session. The extent of the delay depends on when the re-exam is conducted.
Q6. Is my NEET UG 2026 admit card (3 May) still valid?
No. The 3 May 2026 admit card is no longer valid since the exam has been cancelled. A fresh admit card will be issued by NTA before the re-exam date.
Q7. How many students are affected by the NEET UG 2026 cancellation?
Approximately 23 lakh (2.3 million) students who registered and appeared for the NEET UG 2026 exam on 3 May 2026 are affected by this cancellation.
Q8. What should I do while waiting for the re-exam date?
Continue your preparation without a break. Revise the full NEET syllabus — especially Biology (360 marks), which is the highest-weightage subject. Solve previous year papers and take full-length mock tests regularly. Use this additional preparation time to your advantage.
We will update this page the moment NTA announces the NEET UG 2026 re-exam date. Bookmark rozgarofficial.com for the fastest updates on NEET UG 2026 re-exam date, fresh admit card, result, and counselling schedule.
