NEET UG 2026 Exam Cancelled by NTA After Paper Leak Allegations — Re-Exam Date & CBI Probe Ordered
NEET UG 2026 has been cancelled by NTA due to paper leak allegations. Re-exam date will be announced soon. No fresh registration needed, fees will be refunded. CBI probe ordered. Check latest updates.
UPDATED (July 1, 2026): Following the cancellation of the original NEET UG 2026 exam conducted on May 3, 2026, due to widespread paper leak allegations, the National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully conducted the nationwide re-examination on June 21, 2026. More than 22 lakh medical aspirants participated in the re-test. The final scorecard evaluations are currently underway and are scheduled for release on or before July 15, 2026. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its multi-state probe, with judicial custody of the prime accused extended by court order.
⚠️ Summary of Current Status: The NEET UG 2026 re-examination was completed on June 21, 2026. Evaluating processes are actively running. Scorecards and final answer keys will be published by July 15, 2026, on the official portal neet.nta.nic.in. No further registrations or fees are required for this cycle.
Chronological Timeline of the NEET UG 2026 Crisis
The table below summarizes the key milestones from the initial exam date to the completion of the re-test and the ongoing judicial proceedings:
| Date / Timeline | Event Detail & Judicial Progress |
|---|---|
| May 3, 2026 | Original NEET UG 2026 exam conducted across India under security measures. Soon after, allegations of a "guess paper" leak containing matching questions surfaced online. |
| May 12, 2026 | NTA officially cancelled the May 3 examination following initial police findings of compromised integrity. The Union Government transferred the case to the CBI. |
| June 21, 2026 | NTA successfully conducted the NEET UG 2026 re-examination at all designated local and international centers. Objections to the provisional keys were processed shortly after. |
| June 29, 2026 | Special Delhi Court extended the judicial custody of 10 key accused arrested by the CBI in connection with the paper leak until July 11, 2026. |
| July 15, 2026 (Target) | Declared target date for NTA to publish the final evaluated scorecards and merit ranks for all participating candidates. |
CBI Investigation & Legal Actions
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered multiple cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Raids and arrests have spanned several states, including Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Legal custody for the main network operators has been extended to allow comprehensive interrogation. Parliament is also reviewing these events to institute structural security upgrades for all upcoming national competitive tests.
Next Steps for Candidates: Result Verification
Aspirants are advised to follow these steps to check their results once declared by mid-July:
- Navigate to the official NTA NEET portal at neet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the link labeled "NEET UG 2026 Scorecard / Result download".
- Enter your Application Number, Date of Birth, and Security Pin.
- Download the detailed Rank Card and verify your All India Quota (AIQ) score for counseling processes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Will there be another re-test for students who missed the June 21 exam?
No. The June 21 re-test was the final scheduled exam for this academic session. No further test opportunities will be offered for this cycle.
Q2: Where will the final counseling schedule be updated?
Medical counseling for seat allocation under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) is managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and will begin on their official portal after scorecards are released.