NEET-UG 2026: Kerala Student's 'Guess Paper' Leads to Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, affecting nearly 23 lakh students, following an investigation that uncovered the circulation of a "guess paper" with questions strikingly similar to the actual exam. The probe, initially conducted by the Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG), traced the origin of this "guess paper" to an MBBS student from Kerala, who is originally from Rajasthan's Sikar district. This student allegedly received the material from an associate and then shared it with friends and a hostel owner in Sikar. The hostel owner, after realizing the extent of circulation, alerted the police. The "guess paper" reportedly contained around 410 handwritten questions, with investigators finding that over 100 questions, particularly in Biology and Chemistry, closely matched those in the actual NEET-UG 2026 examination. Some reports suggest that these matching questions could account for up to 600 out of the total 720 marks. The material was allegedly circulated through WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms, with evidence suggesting it was shared as early as 15 days to a month before the exam, and also possibly 42 hours prior to its commencement. The investigation also pointed to the material being routed through a person in Gurugram, Haryana, before reaching Rajasthan. In response to the findings shared by the Rajasthan SOG, the NTA decided to cancel the examination. The case has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has registered a case and dispatched special teams to various locations to conduct a comprehensive inquiry. The CBI is investigating alleged links across multiple states, including Rajasthan, Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Delhi. Several individuals suspected of being involved in the circulation of the paper, including students, have been questioned, and arrests have been made in connection with the case. The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 marks the first time the entire examination has been scrapped since the NTA began conducting it in 2019, highlighting significant concerns about the integrity of the national examination system. This incident follows the controversies surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 examination, which also involved allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, leading to a Supreme Court intervention and partial re-examination for some candidates. The Radhakrishnan panel's recommendations for reforms to enhance examination security and transparency, made after the 2024 controversy, are being re-examined in light of the current cancellation. The NTA has stated that the NEET-UG 2026 exam will be reconducted, with existing registration details, candidatures, and centres remaining unchanged.

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