NEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Paper Leak: CBI Probe, Arrests, and June 21 Retest

The NEET UG 2026 examination, held on May 3 for over 2.27 million medical aspirants, was cancelled on May 12, 2026, following confirmed evidence of a large-scale paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now leading the investigation, with 13 arrests made so far across Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nasik, Pune, Latur, and Ahilyanagar. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has scheduled a retest for June 21, with the Indian Air Force deployed to transport question papers to examination centres. Multiple petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking structural reforms to the NTA.

How the Paper Leak Was Discovered

Investigations revealed that a guess paper or question bank, circulated through WhatsApp and other channels in coaching centres, particularly in Sikar, Rajasthan, closely matched many questions in the actual NEET UG 2026 examination. As per media reports, the overlap was significant across Chemistry and Biology sections. A chemistry teacher from Sikar acted as a whistleblower, alerting authorities after comparing the leaked material with the official examination paper. The Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group initiated the investigation, which subsequently led to multiple arrests before the case was transferred to the CBI.

CBI Investigation and Arrests

The CBI has registered a case and taken over the investigation from the state police. As per reports, 13 accused have been arrested so far from multiple states. The investigation has reportedly revealed the involvement of NTA insiders. The scale of the leak, the involvement of coaching centre networks, and the suspected complicity of examination administration officials have raised serious questions about the integrity of India's centralised medical entrance testing system.

Supreme Court Proceedings and NTA's Response

Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to replace or restructure the NTA with a more robust and autonomous examination body. The NTA has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court asserting its commitment to conducting examinations in a fair and transparent manner. The Supreme Court has expressed concern that paper leaks in national examinations traumatise entire families and has highlighted systemic issues in the NTA's governance. The NTA has submitted details of corrective measures being implemented for the June 21 retest.

Security Measures for the Retest

The Indian Air Force has been deployed to transport question papers for the rescheduled NEET UG examination on June 21, citing logistical challenges and security concerns. This unprecedented step underscores the gravity of the breach and the government's determination to prevent a recurrence. Additional security protocols, including enhanced surveillance at examination centres and stricter chain-of-custody procedures for question papers, are reportedly being implemented.

Key Takeaways

First, the NEET UG 2026 examination has been cancelled and a CBI-supervised retest is scheduled for June 21, 2026. Second, 13 arrests have been made across multiple states, with investigations revealing the suspected involvement of NTA insiders. Third, the Supreme Court is hearing petitions seeking structural overhaul of the NTA. Fourth, the Indian Air Force will handle question paper transportation for the retest, an unprecedented security measure. Fifth, students who appeared for the cancelled examination should monitor the NTA and Supreme Court proceedings for updates on the retest schedule, admit card issuance, and any changes to the examination format.