The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 for more than 22 lakh candidates following allegations of a question paper leak. The agency stated that fresh dates for the re-examination, along with revised admit cards, would be announced separately.
The cancellation follows allegations of large-scale malpractice centred around a pre-circulated “guess paper”. While a CBI inquiry is currently under way, the announcement has triggered nationwide outrage and confusion among aspirants.
Many students from Punjab, who prepare intensively for NEET through coaching institutes in cities such as Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Amritsar, are now in shock. Aspirants who had spent months, and in some cases years, preparing for the examination will now have to continue studying for another attempt, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and uncertainty.
“I attempted nearly 450 marks out of 720. I had prepared for around six months for the exam. After hearing about the cancellation, I felt disappointed initially, but now I have decided to start coaching again and prepare for the next attempt with full dedication,” said Khuldeep Anand, a 20-year-old NEET aspirant from Ludhiana.
Khuldeep said the incident had shaken the confidence of many students, but aspirants now had no option except to focus on studies again and wait for the fresh examination schedule.
Similarly, Anhad Singh (18), a resident of Sector 32, Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana, said the cancellation came as a major shock for serious students who had worked hard for years.
“I attempted around 712 marks and the exam went very well. I have been preparing for the past two years with a very hectic routine. It is not the fault of students that the paper got leaked,” he said.
Expressing concern over the uncertainty surrounding the re-examination, Anhad said students were now under immense mental stress as they feared such incidents could happen again.
“I am confused and worried about preparing for the exam again because there is no guarantee that the next paper will not get leaked too. Students are losing both time and confidence due to such incidents,” he added.
The impact is particularly significant on students from rural and border areas, who may face greater logistical challenges if new examination centres are allotted far away. Travel and accommodation expenses are also expected to increase for another examination attempt.
Bhumikapreet Kaur, a student from Patti in Tarn Taran district, said her examination centre was in Amritsar, around 52 kilometres away.
“It was an easier exam compared to 2025, and the next one might be more difficult because after the leaks they may set a tougher paper. Coaching mentors have asked us to stay positive, but it is still a shock. We have to put in all that effort, discipline, hard work, and study hours again. The NTA should do a better job of ensuring no leaks happen because our future is at stake,” she said.
