Agencies | New Delhi:
In a major development that has sent shockwaves across the country, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3 after central agencies flagged alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam.
Announcing the decision in an official statement, the NTA said the action was taken after reviewing inputs received from law enforcement and central investigating agencies regarding possible malpractice linked to the examination process.
The agency stated that allowing the examination to stand would compromise the transparency, fairness and credibility of the national testing system. The cancellation, it said, was approved by the Government of India in the larger interest of safeguarding the integrity of one of the country’s most competitive entrance examinations.
The Centre has also handed over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a detailed and comprehensive probe into the allegations. The NTA assured full cooperation with investigating agencies and said all records and materials related to the examination would be made available for inquiry.
The NEET-UG examination serves as the gateway for admission to undergraduate medical courses across India and is attempted by lakhs of aspirants every year. The cancellation has triggered anxiety among students and parents, many of whom had spent months preparing for the highly competitive examination.
However, the NTA clarified that candidates will not be required to register again for the re-conducted examination. Registration details, candidature status and examination centre preferences submitted during the May 2026 cycle will remain valid.
The agency also announced that examination fees already paid by candidates will be refunded, while no additional fee will be charged for the fresh examination.
New dates for the re-examination, along with fresh admit cards and revised schedules, will be notified separately through official channels in the coming days.
Meanwhile, candidates and parents have been advised to rely only on official announcements issued by the NTA and avoid misinformation or unverified claims circulating on social media platforms.
