In a major development impacting lakhs of medical aspirants across the country, the National Testing Agency has cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3 and announced that the entrance test will be re-conducted on fresh dates to be notified separately.
The decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India following inputs examined in coordination with central agencies and findings shared by law enforcement authorities.
NTA Says Exam Integrity Must Be Protected
In an official statement, the NTA said the examination process in its current form could not be allowed to continue in the interest of transparency, fairness and credibility of the national examination system.
The agency stated that protecting the integrity of national-level examinations remained its top priority and the decision to cancel the examination was necessary to maintain public trust.
Centre Orders CBI Inquiry
The Government of India has also referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive probe into the allegations surrounding the examination.
The NTA said it would fully cooperate with the investigation and provide all necessary documents, records and assistance required by the agency.
The development comes amid growing concerns over alleged irregularities and malpractice linked to the conduct of the examination.
No Fresh Registration Required
The NTA clarified that candidates will not be required to register again for the re-conducted examination.
According to the agency, all existing candidature details, registration information and examination centre preferences submitted during the May 2026 cycle will automatically be carried forward for the fresh examination.
The agency also announced that no additional examination fee would be charged from candidates.
Fees To Be Refunded
The NTA stated that examination fees already paid by candidates for the cancelled examination would be refunded.
Officials said the re-examination would be conducted using the agency’s internal resources and revised dates, along with the schedule for fresh admit cards, would be announced through official channels in the coming days.
Advisory For Students And Parents
The agency acknowledged the inconvenience caused to students and parents due to the cancellation and re-examination process.
It urged candidates to rely only on official announcements and avoid believing unverified claims or rumours circulating on social media platforms.
NEET UG is one of India’s largest entrance examinations and serves as the gateway for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country.
