NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Rajasthan Paper Leak, CBI Takes Over; 23 Lakh Students Affected

CBI to investigate nationwide cheating network as handwritten 'question bank' with 150 matching questions surfaces days before the 3 May exam

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on 3 May, citing a serious breach of credibility following a paper leak traced to Rajasthan. The decision, approved by the Government of India, affects nearly 23 lakh students who appeared for the medical entrance test.

The cancellation came after investigators uncovered a handwritten "guess paper" that reportedly reached students in Sikar and Jaipur as early as 1 May — two full days before the exam was conducted.

CBI Brings In

The Ministry of Education has handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which will now probe the alleged cheating network across multiple states. NTA officials confirmed full cooperation, adding that all records, response sheets, and digital trail logs will be shared with the central agency.

Sources familiar with the probe said the CBI is likely to summon at least 15 detained suspects currently in custody of Rajasthan's Special Operations Group (SOG). Among them is Manish from Jaipur, described by officials as the alleged mastermind.

150 Questions Matched Word for Word

Investigators have recovered a handwritten "question bank" containing over 300 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology — all in the same handwriting. Of these, 150 questions matched the actual NEET paper verbatim, according to preliminary findings shared by state police.

Questions worth nearly 600 out of the total 720 marks had allegedly reached some students in Sikar before the examination, sources said.

The alleged trail begins with an MBBS student from Kerala who reportedly sent the material to a friend in Sikar on 1 May. From there, it reached a PG accommodation operator, who shared it with students staying at his facility.

Students Questioned, Money Trail Being Tracked

Several students have been detained for questioning. Some have reportedly admitted to financial transactions linked to the leak, officials said. Investigators are now tracking bank transfers and digital payment records.

No official estimate has been released on how many students may have accessed the leaked material. However, the NTA stated that the breach was widespread enough to undermine the examination's integrity nationwide.

No Fresh Registration, Fees to Be Refunded

In a statement issued late Tuesday evening, the NTA clarified that students do not need to register again for the re-examination. Candidature, registration details, and allotted exam centres will remain valid.

"No additional fee will be charged. The fees already paid by candidates will be refunded," the agency said. Fresh exam dates and admit cards will be announced through official channels in the coming days. Parents have been advised to ignore unverified claims circulating on social media.

2024 Haunts Again

The controversy echoes the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, which surfaced in Patna and Hazaribagh. While the Supreme Court refused to cancel the entire exam that year, it ordered a re-test for 1,539 candidates. The 2024 cycle was also marked by 67 students scoring a perfect 720 — an unusually high number — and multiple toppers emerging from a single centre, raising further questions.

Between 2019 and 2024, the NTA has faced repeated allegations of mismanagement, from multiple correct answers in answer keys to impersonation cases in JEE Mains and discrepancies in OMR sheet scoring.

What Next for Aspirants?

For the 23 lakh students who had prepared for months, the cancellation is a gut punch. Many had already begun counselling processes based on their response sheets.

"We understand the disappointment, but the decision was necessary to protect the credibility of the national examination system," the NTA said. Fresh dates are expected within two weeks.