Delhi: Students protest against NEET 2026 cancellation

New Delhi: With the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelling the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3 and announcing that the exam would be conducted again, activists of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) took to the streets to stage a massive protest against the agency and the alleged paper leak controversy outside Shastri Bhawan in Delhi.

The activists demanded that the government take the strictest possible action against the culprits and ensure severe punishment for anyone involved in the conspiracy. They also demanded a ban on the National Testing Agency (NTA) and called for an investigation to be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Holding banners and raising slogans, NSUI activists claimed they had lost faith in the government due to repeated controversies surrounding NEET examinations over the years. They accused the examination body of failing to ensure the integrity and transparency of one of India’s largest entrance examinations.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the NTA declared that NEET 2026, conducted on May 3, 2026, has been cancelled and will be re-conducted on dates that will be notified separately.

On its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the NTA posted, "In continuation of its press release dated 10 May 2026, the National Testing Agency wishes to inform candidates, parents, and members of the public of the following decisions taken in respect of NEET (UG) 2026. NTA had, on 8 May 2026, referred the matters then under consideration to the central agencies for independent verification and necessary action, consistent with its standing commitment to the fair, secure, and credible conduct of the national examinations entrusted to it. On the basis of the inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with the central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies and in order to ensure that there is transparency in the system, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately."

This comes in the backdrop of the probe by the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group, which reportedly found a “guess paper” containing more than 100 questions similar to those asked in the NEET UG examination. The question paper series under scrutiny has been described as a “guess paper” which reportedly contained around 410 questions. Out of these, nearly 120 questions are alleged to have appeared in the Biology and Chemistry sections of the examination.

In this regard, the SOG has detained 13 suspects from Dehradun, Sikar and Jhunjhunu. A coaching-linked career counsellor in Sikar has also been arrested.

Now, the National Testing Agency has announced that the Government of India has further decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations therein.

The alleged controversy and the decision to re-conduct the examination triggered anger and protests by the National Students' Union of India, the student wing of the Congress, near Shastri Bhawan, the headquarters of the Union Education Ministry in central Delhi.

Shouting slogans, NSUI workers demanded transparency and accountability from the NTA, arguing that repeated controversies around competitive examinations are eroding students’ trust in the system.

To control the crowd, security personnel were deployed outside Shastri Bhawan, reports India Today. 

Speaking to Economic Times, Vinod Jakhar, National President of NSUI, said, "Students from every corner of the nation are out on the streets. NEET aspirants are out on the streets. Where is the government? Today, the future of those who prepared for the NEET examination with utmost diligence and integrity has been sold off. I demand that the government take the strictest possible action against the culprits and ensure that anyone involved in this conspiracy receives severe punishment. Certain individuals of the government and the administration are involved in this matter. The government, specifically, Dharmendra Pradhan, must accept accountability for this failure and should tender his resignation. Our primary demand is that the National Testing Agency (NTA) be banned. We demand that the investigation be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court. This is because we have no faith in the government."

On this, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal said, "It is a case of 'complete collusion'; students should take to the street to protest against the government, they have my support." 

Also read- NEET 2026 cancelled, re-exam soon: NTA