The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday said it is preparing to conduct the NEET UG 2026 re-examination at the earliest after cancelling the May 3 exam over allegations of a major paper leak and organised malpractice that affected more than 22 lakh candidates across the country.
Addressing the media after the cancellation decision, Abhishek Singh said the revised examination schedule would be announced within the next few days and the re-exam process would begin within seven to ten days.
“For the re-examination date, I will sit with my team now, and in the next few days we will announce the complete exam schedule and dates. Our effort will be to conduct the exam in the shortest possible time so that the academic calendar and admission schedule of medical colleges are not disrupted,” Singh said.
The NTA chief also assured students that strict legal action would be taken against those involved in the alleged leak. “All accused will be jailed,” Singh said, adding that candidates would receive a full refund of the examination fee and would not be charged any additional amount for appearing in the re-examination.
The NEET UG 2026 examination was cancelled after investigations pointed to the circulation of a “guess paper” that allegedly matched a significant number of actual examination questions, particularly in Chemistry and Biology. Authorities suspect the material was distributed through organised networks in states including Rajasthan and Bihar.
The controversy deepened after Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group detained several suspects, including alleged mastermind Manish Yadav in Jaipur. Investigators are examining whether coaching centres and organised cheating syndicates were involved in leaking examination material before the test.
The sudden cancellation has triggered anxiety and uncertainty among aspirants, many of whom had spent years preparing for the country’s biggest medical entrance examination. Students have raised concerns over mental stress, academic disruption and the challenge of reproducing the same performance in the re-test.
Officials clarified that candidates would not need to register again for the fresh examination, as previous application details would remain valid. Revised admit cards and examination centre details will be announced separately after the new schedule is finalised.
The government has also initiated a wider probe into the leak allegations as pressure mounts to restore confidence in the integrity of India’s competitive examination system.