NEET-UG 2026 Exam Cancelled Following Allegations of Paper Leak

A significant controversy has emerged following the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET-UG) 2026, initially held on May 3. Over 22 lakh students participated in this all-India medical entrance examination, which has now been marred by allegations of a question paper leak.

In the early hours of May 4, at approximately 1:30 AM, a whistleblower arrived at the Udyog Nagar police station in Sikar district, Rajasthan, presenting what he claimed was evidence of a paper leak. He brought with him a handwritten document comprising questions that corresponded closely with those featured in the NEET-UG exam. However, no formal complaint was lodged that night, much to the detriment of the situation. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for administering the examination, took several days to respond to the claims, ultimately deciding to cancel the exam on May 11.

Rajesh Kumar, the Station House Officer at Udyog Nagar, stated that the individual approached the station but did not submit a written complaint as per protocol, leading to a lack of immediate action by law enforcement. Reports indicate that the whistleblower, reportedly a teacher associated with a coaching centre, had received the guess paper from his landlord, who accessed it from his son residing in Kerala. After comparing the contents, the whistleblower discovered that approximately 600 marks worth of questions from the guess paper were identical to those in the NEET-UG exam, which is scored out of a total of 720 marks.

Investigations launched by Rajasthan’s Special Operations Group uncovered that nearly 90 Biology questions and 45 Chemistry questions in the NEET paper matched those in the guess paper. The issue has prompted the Union Ministry of Education to refer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to its multi-state implications.

The circulated guess paper was allegedly sold to students at prices ranging between INR 30,000 and INR 30 lakh. Notable arrests include Shubham Khairnar, apprehended on May 12 in Nashik, Maharashtra, who reportedly bought the guess paper for INR 10 lakh and sold it for INR 15 lakh. Additionally, two brothers from Rajasthan were arrested for purchasing the leaked materials for INR 30 lakh from a doctor in Gurugram.

The controversy surrounding the NEET examination is not new; similar allegations surfaced during the 2024 exam, resulting in an FIR and a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. Following these incidents, a committee led by former ISRO Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan proposed 95 reforms to address structural flaws in the system.

In response to the examination cancellation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has renewed calls for the abolition of the NEET system. He argued that the examination perpetuates inequalities, disproportionately impacting students from rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. He reiterated that the selection process for medical education should rely on Class 12 performance rather than a single national examination.

This controversial incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding the integrity and accessibility of medical admission processes in India, fuelling calls for reform in the examination system.