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NTA Cancels NEET-UG 2026 Affecting 22 Lakh Students, CBI Files FIR Under Public Examination Act 2024

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
13 May 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:Over 22 lakh studentsMay 3, 20262016
Bodies:NTACBI
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What This Article Covers

1.NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3 has been cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) due to a paper leak, affecting over 22 lakh examinees.

2.CBI investigation widens with detentions in Maharashtra (Ahilyanagar, Pune) and Rajasthan (Jamwa Ramgarh), invoking sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

3.This is the first-ever cancellation of the NEET-UG exam since it began in 2016, raising major questions about the security of national competitive examinations.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam due to a paper leak, impacting over 22 lakh students. The CBI investigation has widened, detaining individuals in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and invoking the newly enacted Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. This marks the first such cancellation since the exam's inception in 2016, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in high-stakes national testing.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Exam CancelledNEET-UG 2026
Students AffectedOver 22 lakh
Exam Date (Cancelled)May 3, 2026
NEET-UG Started2016
Key Legislation InvokedPublic Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Exam Cancelled: NEET-UG 2026
  • ›Students Affected: Over 22 lakh
  • ›Target this Data: Over 22 lakh NEET-UG candidates affected (2026).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: National Testing Agency (NTA).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which autonomous body is responsible for conducting the NEET-UG examination?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the NEET-UG paper leak case:

1. The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3, affecting over 22 lakh students.

2. This was the second time the NEET-UG exam has been cancelled since its introduction.

3. The CBI's FIR has invoked sections of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the news, how many students were affected by the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary reason cited by the NTA Director General for cancelling the NEET-UG 2026 examination?

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