NEET-UG cancelled after paper leak
What began as a social media claim has snowballed into a massive examination scandal
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday officially cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3, sending shockwaves through India’s medical education ecosystem. The decision comes amid allegations of a paper leak involving a widely circulated question-bank that allegedly matched with a significant portion of the actual question paper. Before the exam, the NTA had issued strong advisories dismissing leak rumours circulating on social media and assuring candidates that all question papers and materials were secure.
The Union Government has handed over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive probe into the irregularities. The CBI on Tuesday registered an FIR in the alleged leak, officials said.
The epicentre of the leak appears to be Rajasthan’s Sikar and Jaipur regions, with additional links emerging to Nashik and multi-State coaching networks. The controversy erupted days after the exam when investigative agencies, particularly the Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), uncovered evidence of a suspected organised leak. According to probe details, a 410-question question bank, allegedly prepared by coaching networks, had been circulating via WhatsApp, Telegram, and other platforms for 15 days to a month before the exam, with some reports indicating circulation as early as 42 hours prior.
Investigators were stunned to find striking similarities between this document and the actual NEET-UG 2026 paper. Around 120 questions from the chemistry section matched exactly. Over 100 questions in biology and chemistry combined showed near-identical content. Some claims suggest questions worth up to 600 marks (out of 720) were compromised, potentially benefiting select candidates who accessed the material.
Reports indicate the material was sold at exorbitant prices, up to Rs 5 lakh in some cases, two days before the exam, or around Rs 30,000 closer to the date. Rajasthan SOG has detained multiple suspects (reports range from 13 to 45, including a possible mastermind in Jaipur), and a medical student from Churu who is currently studying in Kerala has been traced in the chain of command.
The move underscores growing concerns over the integrity of one of India’s largest competitive examinations, which serves as the gateway to undergraduate medical, dental, and AYUSH courses. In 2026, nearly 23 lakh (or over 22 lakh, as per some reports) candidates registered for the exam, which was held in pen-and-paper mode on May 3, 2026, in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.
As per the official complaint and the CBI statement, the FIR was registered based on a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. The CBI has invoked offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Prevention of Corruption Act and offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Special CBI teams have been formed and dispatched to multiple locations, including Rajasthan, where the initial probe by the state’s Special Operations Group began. The agency has confirmed a comprehensive investigation to identify all individuals and entities involved.
Special teams have already been dispatched to key locations, primarily Rajasthan and neighbouring states such as Maharashtra and Haryana, to conduct coordinated raids, searches, and seizures of evidence, including question papers, digital devices, communication records (WhatsApp/Telegram groups), and financial transactions.
CBI teams are looking for forensic evidence, including any leaked guess papers matching the actual exam. CCTV footage, call records, and tower location data to trace the leak’s origin, reportedly from a printing press in Nashik to intermediaries in Gurugram, Sikar coaching hubs, and beyond. Agency sources said they will interrogate suspects, witnesses and possible insiders (NTA officials, printers, or intermediaries) while examining any larger conspiracy involving coaching institutes or public servants.
