Guess papers, exam mafia cannot decide who becomes a doctor! Medical fraternity laments NEET 2026 cancellation, alleged paper leak
Doctors
New Delhi: Amid the controversy over the alleged NEET 2026 paper leak and now the cancellation of the examination held on May 3 by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the medical fraternity has highlighted the mental trauma, emotional stress, and pressure that aspirants and their parents are once again being forced to go through after the announcement of the re-exam.
Cracking the NEET examination is not easy, with more than 23 lakh students appearing for it every year. However, the controversy has pushed one of India’s biggest competitive examinations into yet another major trust and credibility crisis.
Despite the concerns over repeated paper leak incidents in past years and now this year, doctors have questioned why the authorities are unable to prevent the irregularities. They blamed the NTA and the government for failing to prevent another such occurrence this year.
Notably, the National Testing Agency (NTA) had repeatedly denied all allegations of paper leak on social media and maintained that the examination was conducted under full security protocols. However, it has now reportedly admitted that the examination was compromised.
What made the medical fraternity concerned is the fact that this happened despite security precautions like AI surveillance, biometric verification, GPS-tracked question papers, watermark identifiers, and 5G jammers.
Medical Dialogues recently reported that the NTA on its official X handle declared that the 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."
A few days ago, the country was once again shocked after alleged similarities were found between a "guess paper" and the actual NEET UG OMR sheet. The Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) probe found a 'guess paper' with over 100 test questions showing similarities to the actual questions asked in the MBBS entrance exam. 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.
Angered over the issue, 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 today. 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.
Doctors' reactions:
Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson, Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) told Medical Dialogues, "The most important point is that the government has learned nothing from this occurances in 2024 and now this year. The need to conduct a re-examination shows the absolute failure of the authorities despite knowing everything. This is like playing with the future of 23 lakh aspirants. Now those who have appeared for the examination have to prepare again. Think about the mental trauma that the aspirants and their parents are going to face. The government need to suspend or arrest every single person involved with the incident. Individuals from inside the system are involved."
While the decision to cancel and re-conduct the examination is welcome in the interest of maintaining fairness and transparency, Dr Lakshay Mittal, Chairperson of United Doctors' Front (UDF) said that merely cancelling the exam cannot be the final solution to such a massive scam. He told Medical Dialogues, "This is not the first time that serious allegations and irregularities have surfaced regarding NEET examinations. Repeated incidents over the years clearly indicate the existence of a deep-rooted nexus and systemic failure that cannot be ignored any longer. We demand a high-level, time-bound, transparent investigation into the entire matter. Every individual involved in this scam must be identified and arrested immediately, irrespective of their status or position. Whether it is any high-profile politician, bureaucrat, middleman, doctor, coaching mafia, or any other person connected directly or indirectly with this racket, strict action must be taken without any political or administrative protection."
Dr Meet Ghonia, General Secretary, Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) said, "The cancellation of NEET UG 2026 by the National Testing Agency in view of the alleged paper leak has caused disappointment and emotional stress for nearly 22 lakh candidates and their families across India. Although this decision is frustrating, we hope that the authorities will now conduct the examination with stronger security measures and greater transparency. Adoption of a more secure system, including consideration of computer-based examinations similar to NEET PG, may help prevent such incidents in the future."
He further said that, "We also hope that after the ongoing inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Central Government will take strict and exemplary action against all those involved in this scam, ensuring that such incidents are never repeated again. At this difficult moment, we stand with all candidates and their families. We sincerely appeal to students to stay calm, maintain their mental peace, and continue their preparation with confidence."
Demanding immediate accountability for this paper leak, the Federation of All India Medical Association shared a post on its official X handle saying, "Our hearts go out to the lakhs of students who put their lives on hold for NEET UG 2026, only to be met with systemic negligence. FAIMA demands immediate accountability for this paper leak. We will not stay silent while "guess papers" & mafias decide who becomes a doctor. Exemplary punishment is the only way forward. We stand with you."
Dr Sandeep Dagar, Patron, FAIMA said, "When an examination that determines the future of lakhs of students fails to be conducted with transparency, accountability must be fixed. The National Testing Agency must answer how such a situation arose despite repeated assurances. Students have invested years of effort, and their future now hangs in uncertainty, this is unacceptable. The system cannot afford such failures in high-stakes examinations. At the same time, questions must also be raised to the National Medical Commission, which had issued directives regarding MBBS classes even on the day of the NEET UG exam. In a moment like this, where is the coordination and sensitivity towards students? A transparent investigation, clear communication, and a time-bound resolution are the need of the hour. Students deserve certainty, not chaos."
Suggesting reforms to prevent such incidents, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, Ex Vice President (External Affairs), AIMSA, said that to restore trust in NEET-UG, strong reforms are urgently needed - the end-to-end digital encryption of question papers, last-minute paper generation with randomised sets and strict background checks for printing, transport & exam staff.
Dr Amit Vyas, National President, Democratic Medical Association (DMA India) said, "When a national agency like NTA fails to safeguard the confidentiality and fairness of an examination connected to the future of Lakhs of students, it is no longer just an Administrative lapse — it becomes a serious institutional failure and a crisis of accountability. Lakhs of students dedicated years of hard work, and families invested their hopes, finances, and sacrifices, yet the system failed to ensure even a fair and secure examination process. Today, the nation deserves to know how the paper was leaked and who is responsible."
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Apurva Dalvi, National Convener of the All India Medical Students’ Association said, "In a vast country like India, repeated cancellation of examinations is deeply concerning. Although the Central Government has implemented several reforms and security measures, recurring incidents of paper leaks are gradually eroding public confidence in the examination system. To prevent injustice to hardworking and honest students, urgent and strict corrective measures are now essential. Establishing a secure examination system, ensuring strict accountability of responsible authorities, and introducing policies that address students’ mental well-being are the need of the hour. Ensuring justice for students, who represent the future of the nation, is the primary responsibility of the government. The National Testing Agency must urgently take appropriate decisions and provide suitable alternatives for affected students."
Despite the NMC advising medical colleges to deny leave to MBBS students on May 2 and 3, citing concerns over NEET-UG integrity, the exam still stands cancelled due to an alleged paper leak, said Dr Amar Agame, General Secretary, BMC MARD. He said that this clearly proves that the issue was never with MBBS students, but with systemic failures in examination security and administration.
"Unfortunately, lakhs of genuine aspirants are now facing immense stress, uncertainty and emotional trauma because of these lapses. It is like searching for the problem in the wrong place while the actual leak in the system continues unchecked," Dr Amar said.
"The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 due to paper leak allegations is a serious failure of the examination system and a betrayal of lakhs of sincere students who dedicated years of hard work for this exam. Merit cannot survive in an environment compromised by corruption, leaks, and organized malpractice. National-level examinations must remain transparent, secure, and fair. The future of India’s medical education system cannot be left in the hands of exam mafias," said Dr Karthik Nagula, President, Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), Telangana.
Demanding the same, Brijesh Sutaria, Medical Education activist, told Medical Dialogues, "The cancellation of NEET UG 2026 is an extraordinary and unprecedented decision. For the Government of India and NTA to scrap an examination involving over 22 lakh aspirants clearly indicates that the integrity of the examination process itself had come under serious doubt. While the re-exam will cause immense mental stress, uncertainty, and hardship to genuine students and their families, allowing a compromised examination to stand would have caused even greater damage to public trust in merit-based medical admissions. What is equally concerning is that this happened despite AI surveillance, biometric verification, GPS tracked question papers, watermark identifiers, and 5G jammers. This raises serious questions about deeper organised manipulation networks within the examination ecosystem. The priority now must be to ensure a completely transparent, secure, and foolproof re conduct so that honest aspirants do not suffer further."
Also read- Delhi: Students protest against NEET 2026 cancellation
