Shock, outrage among aspirants as NEET-UG 2026 cancelled
Shock and frustration swept amongst medical aspirants and their guardians on Tuesday across India after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination over alleged paper leaks and announced a re-test.
The decision triggered anger, frustration and anxiety among students and parents in cities and on social media. Many said years of hard work had been undermined by repeated controversies surrounding competitive examinations.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Delhi-based student, Pavika* (name changed to maintain anonymity) said, “I was finally beginning to relax after the exam and was waiting for my Class 12 CBSE results when my father called on Tuesday and told me the exam had been cancelled. I was shocked.”
Adding to the frustration, she said, “For the past two years, I have had no weekends, holidays or breaks while preparing for NEET. I expected to score around 500 marks and thought the pressure was finally over. Now, we have to go through the entire process again, which is extremely painful. Those playing with the lives and careers of students should be punished.”
Anshul Garg, founder and CEO of Satnara Academy in Delhi, told The Pioneer that the high cost of private medical education was one of the reasons paper leak rackets continued to thrive.
“Completing an MBBS degree from private colleges in India costs crores of rupees. For many, getting access to leaked papers for a few lakhs becomes a convenient shortcut to fulfil their dream of becoming doctors,” he said.
Calling the cancellation necessary under the circumstances, Garg said it was still unfair to students who would now have to reappear for the examination.
“Paper leaks point to corruption within the authorities, and the NTA must be held accountable. They are making a mockery of students’ careers, dreams and aspirations,” he added.
Another aspirant, Satyam, questioned the credibility of the examination system, saying repeated leak allegations were eroding students’ trust in competitive exams.
In Varanasi, NEET aspirant Shreya Jaiswal spoke to media and described the cancellation as “deeply unfair”, saying students dedicate years to preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance test. She said, “I worked hard for two years for this exam and now it feels like all our efforts have gone in vain.”
Parents too expressed frustration over the alleged leak. A parent waiting outside a coaching centre in Varanasi said middle-class families bear the brunt of such incidents as they spend heavily on coaching and study material in the hope of securing their children’s future.
“Children study throughout the year, but someone with money gets hold of leaked papers, and honest students suffer,” he said, demanding strict action against those responsible.
Speaking to the press, Suresh Chouhan, director of Career Coaching in Prayagraj, said repeated paper leaks and exam cancellations place an immense emotional and financial burden on students.
“We see children from villages and small towns collecting money note by note to pay coaching fees. They live in tiny rooms and study for an entire year hoping to fulfil their dreams. When papers get leaked, it is truly heartbreaking,” he said.
He added that uncertainty surrounding re-examinations also affects students psychologically and impacts their performance.
The NTA said the May 3 examination would be conducted again on dates to be announced later, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would carry out a detailed probe into the allegations. Protests staged by student unions erupted in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and sought accountability.
