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News 11 of 27

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled Over Paper Leak Affecting 22 Lakh Students; CBI Inquiry Initiated

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
13 May 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Over 22 lakh studentsMay 12, 2026May 3, 202615 arrests
Bodies:National Testing Agency (NTA)CBIRajasthan Police SOG
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.NTA cancelled NEET-UG 2026 on May 12, 2026, over paper leak allegations, impacting over 22 lakh students.

2.The leak involved a 'guess paper' matching exam questions, sold in Rajasthan coaching hubs, leading to 15 arrests by Rajasthan Police SOG.

3.This is part of a pattern of controversies plaguing NTA, including the 2019 impersonation scam, 2022 frisking issue, and 2024 grace marks controversy.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam affecting over 22 lakh students due to a paper leak, handing the inquiry to the CBI. This incident severely dents the credibility of India's premier testing body and highlights systemic vulnerabilities in high-stakes exam administration, a critical governance issue for aspirants.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Exam CancelledNEET-UG 2026
Students AffectedOver 22 lakh
Cancellation DateMay 12, 2026
Original Exam DateMay 3, 2026
Investigation AgencyCBI
State Police ActionRajasthan Police SOG (15 arrests)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Exam Cancelled: NEET-UG 2026
  • ›Students Affected: Over 22 lakh
  • ›Target this Data: Over 22 lakh students affected by NEET-UG 2026 cancellation (May 12, 2026).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: National Testing Agency (NTA) is the conducting body; K. Radhakrishnan committee recommended its reforms.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Investigation handed to CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation).

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

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an autonomous body under which ministry/department?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation:

1. The exam was cancelled due to allegations of a paper leak where a 'guess paper' matched questions in chemistry and biology.

2. The decision to cancel was taken by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is conducting the inquiry.

3. The K. Radhakrishnan committee was constituted to recommend reforms in the examination process and the NTA.

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 National Testing Agency (NTA) for cancelling the NEET-UG 2026 exam?

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