NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: 'Kingpin' PV Kulkarni Arrested in Paper Leak Probe

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026, conducted on May 3, 2026, for admissions to undergraduate medical and dental programmes across India, has been officially cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) due to confirmed allegations of a widespread paper leak. This decision, announced on May 12, 2026, came after inputs were examined in coordination with central agencies and investigative findings shared by law enforcement. The cancellation affects over 22.79 lakh (2.27 million) students who appeared for the examination at more than 5,400 centres in 551 Indian cities and 14 overseas locations. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the paper leak, registering a case on May 12, 2026, following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. The agency has made significant arrests, identifying Pune-based chemistry lecturer P.V. Kulkarni as the alleged 'kingpin' behind the leak. Kulkarni was arrested on May 15, 2026, and is accused of having direct access to the question papers due to his alleged involvement in the examination process on behalf of the NTA. Investigations by the CBI revealed that Kulkarni allegedly mobilized students with the help of another accused, Manisha Waghmare (a beauty salon owner arrested on May 14). During the last week of April 2026, Kulkarni reportedly conducted secret coaching classes at his residence in Pune. In these sessions, he allegedly dictated questions, multiple-choice options, and correct answers to students, who then hand-wrote them into their notebooks. CBI investigators later confirmed that these handwritten notes precisely matched the actual chemistry section of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper. Students reportedly paid several lakhs of rupees for these sessions. The NTA initially defended the robustness of its examination process, citing GPS-tracked question paper movements, biometric verification, AI-assisted CCTV monitoring, and 5G jammers. However, the weight of evidence from law enforcement agencies led to the unprecedented cancellation. This marks the first time in the exam's 13-year history that NEET-UG has been cancelled in its entirety due to a paper leak. In response to the cancellation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that a re-examination would be held on June 21, 2026. The NTA has clarified that existing registration data, candidature, and chosen examination centres from the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward for the re-conducted examination, and no fresh registration or additional fees will be required. Fees already paid will be refunded. The agency also stated its intent to conduct the re-exam as soon as possible to minimize disruption to the academic calendar. The Supreme Court has also been involved, with various pleas filed concerning the integrity of the examination. While there was a separate controversy around NEET-UG 2024 regarding grace marks and localized leaks, which the Supreme Court had previously refused to fully cancel due to a lack of evidence of a systemic leak, the 2026 cancellation is distinct as it was initiated by the Centre and NTA themselves based on confirmed widespread malpractice. The 2026 cancellation operates under the full force of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024, which prescribes stringent penalties for those involved in examination malpractice. As of May 16, 2026, the CBI has arrested a total of eight accused in the case, with searches conducted at multiple locations across the country, including Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar. The agency is coordinating with state police forces, such as the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), which played a crucial role in uncovering the leak initially. The investigation is ongoing, with technical and forensic analysis of seized electronic devices to unearth the entire network responsible for the leak.

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