NTA Cancels NEET UG 2026; CBI to Investigate Alleged Irregularities

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 examination. According to the NTA, the move was taken after reviewing information gathered in coordination with central agencies as well as findings shared by law enforcement bodies regarding alleged irregularities linked to the examination. The decision affects nearly 22.79 lakh candidates who had registered for the medical entrance examination conducted on May 3 across India and overseas centres.

In an official statement, the NTA said the examination would now be conducted afresh on dates that will be announced later. “The National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified later,” the agency stated.

The Centre has also decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a detailed and comprehensive probe. “The Government of India has further decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations therein,” the agency said.

NEET UG 2026 was conducted across 551 cities in India and 14 international locations at more than 5,400 examination centres, making it one of the world’s largest entrance examinations. The NTA had earlier released the provisional answer key for the examination on May 6.

Officials said extensive security and monitoring arrangements had been put in place during the examination process. According to the agency, over 6,000 observers were deployed for independent supervision across centres, while more than two lakh personnel were mobilised to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination.

Despite the large-scale arrangements, concerns regarding the integrity of the examination process prompted the authorities to cancel the test altogether. The NTA acknowledged that the decision would create significant disruption and anxiety for students and their families but maintained that preserving trust in the national examination system was paramount. “The Agency is conscious that re-conduct will cause real and significant inconvenience to candidates and their families. NTA does not take that consequence lightly,” the agency said in a post on X. “The decision has been taken because the alternative would have caused greater and more lasting damage to that trust,” it added.

Fresh dates for the re-examination are expected to be announced shortly. The NTA said further updates regarding the revised examination schedule and related procedures would be communicated to candidates in due course. The cancellation comes as another major setback for lakhs of medical aspirants across the country, many of whom had already begun waiting for counselling and admission processes following the release of the provisional answer key.