NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: Nashik Police Arrest Paper Leak Suspect Amid CBI Probe

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following confirmed reports of a question paper leak. The decision, announced on May 12, 2026, comes as law enforcement agencies intensify their crackdown on an interstate paper leak syndicate.

Key Highlights of the NEET-UG 2026 Cancellation

• Reason for Cancellation: Significant irregularities and a breach of examination integrity were discovered, making a fair assessment impossible.

• Nashik Arrest: Nashik City Police (Crime Branch Unit 2) have taken a key suspect, identified as Shubham Khairnar, into custody.

• CBI Investigation: The Union Government has officially handed over the entire probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to uncover the depth of the conspiracy.

• Re-exam Status: A fresh exam will be conducted; students are advised that dates will be notified soon on the official NTA website.

Details of the Nashik Police Operation

• Tracking the Accused: Acting on a high-priority lead from the Rajasthan Police, the Nashik Crime Branch tracked down the suspect in the Indira Nagar area.

• Evasion Tactics: According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kirankumar Chauhan, the suspect had significantly altered his appearance to evade capture before being apprehended.

• The Syndicate Role: The accused, reportedly a BAMS student from Nandgaon village, is suspected of being a key link in transporting physical copies of the leaked paper from Maharashtra to northern states like Haryana and Rajasthan.

Essential Information for NEET Aspirants

• No Re-registration Required: Candidates do not need to apply again. Existing application data and exam center preferences will remain valid for the re-test.

• No Extra Fees: The NTA has confirmed that no additional examination fee will be charged for the upcoming re-test.

• Official Communication: Students should ignore social media rumors and only rely on updates from exams.nta.ac.in/NEET.

Nationwide Impact and Reaction

• Student Impact: The cancellation affects over 22.79 lakh students who appeared for the exam on May 3.

• Political Response: Various political leaders have called for a complete overhaul of the NTA’s testing protocols to prevent future “money-minting scams.”

• Judicial Oversight: The Supreme Court is expected to monitor the progress of the CBI probe to ensure full transparency and justice for the medical aspirants.