Cancelled exam, broken momentum: NEET aspirants fight anxiety ahead of re-test

New Delhi: With the NEET UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21, several aspirants have opened up about the stress, anxiety and loss of confidence they are facing after the cancellation of the earlier exam over alleged paper leak concerns.

Many students said they had already completed months, and in some cases years, of preparation before the May 3 examination. However, the cancellation announcement on May 12 forced them to restart their preparation cycle, affecting their mental health, sleep schedules and confidence.

They have also expressed concern over whether they would be able to perform at the same level again after weeks of disruption and mental stress.

The NEET UG 2026 exam was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency and was held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in pen-and-paper mode. Over 22.7 lakh aspirants appeared for the examination this year. It took place across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, covering over 5,400 centres.

However, on May 12, 2026, the NTA declared the examination held on May 3 cancelled and subsequently announced a re-examination on June 21, 2026.

This came 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 the aftermath of the exam cancellation, protests were held, with aspirants and members of the medical fraternity blaming NTA and the Education Ministry for the failure.

Due to the alleged controversy, the central government decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations. Based on the centre's direction, the CBI registered an FIR in the case and has so far arrested 13 people.

Speaking to PTI, Bansal, who appeared for both the Class 12 board examinations and NEET this year, said the cancellation of the entrance test has left her emotionally drained, and she is struggling to resume her studies.

"I was expecting a good score that would have helped me secure a seat in a medical college. I came out of the NEET exam feeling happy and confident that I would get into a medical college. Then suddenly, the news came that the exam had been cancelled," Bansal told PTI.

"When I reopened my books, I was not feeling like studying," she said, adding that the uncertainty has also affected her daily routine and mental well-being.

"Sleep issues have started because all-nighters are again happening. After the exam, I was sleeping peacefully. Now I am back to sleeping at 3 am, waking up at 7, attending classes, giving mock tests and studying again. Mental health is affected. I don't feel like eating," Bansal said.

She said the controversy has also weakened her faith in the examination system. "The trust is over because when the news came, NTA was saying it was just a few questions. But even if a few questions were out, that is also a paper leak. Why should even a few questions get out," she asked.

"I don't trust the system now," she added.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) did not respond to queries seeking its response on issues raised by students.

Another aspirant aged 17 said she was on a family vacation when she learnt that the examination had been cancelled and would be conducted again.

"I was disheartened about the exam being cancelled. I was on a family vacation when I got the notification that the exam is being cancelled and they are going to reschedule the exam. So I panicked thinking what is going to happen now," she said.

She said the controversy affected her concentration and motivation.

"I don't feel like studying anymore. It's like more of a joke. You should read as much as you want, but it's not going to be good enough. I would zone out while studying and keep thinking about what would happen now. I would completely zone out and not acknowledge anything around me," she said.

She said the break between the May 3 examination and the announcement of the re-test disrupted her preparation. "There was a gap after May 3 exam and then suddenly we had to start preparing again. Once that continuity breaks, it becomes difficult to get back into the same rhythm," she said.

She also expressed concerns about the upcoming examination. "My plan was to get around 550 or 530 marks so that I could get a government college. But everyone is saying that re-NEET will be very hard. I think the paper is going to be hard. So, I am scared," she said.

Shelar, who had prepared for NEET for two years, said she was devastated when she learnt that the examination had been cancelled. "It hurt a lot because I had been preparing for two years. After studying so hard for so long, hearing this news was extremely painful. It felt very bad," she said.

Shelar said she had walked out of the examination centre believing her hard work had paid off. "The paper was easy. Biology was especially easy. When I came out of the examination centre, I felt really happy. I thought, 'This time I'll make it'," she said.

However, the events that followed left her demoralised. She said her confidence has dropped sharply since then. "My confidence has definitely dropped. I don't feel like studying at all. Everything feels very different. But I'm still studying because my future depends on it. I'm motivating myself, telling myself that I have goals to achieve and a future to build. That's the only reason I'm continuing," she said.

Aspirants on social media

NEET UG aspirants on social media are demanding more time before the re-examination, saying the sudden cancellation of the earlier exam has left them mentally exhausted and emotionally stressed.

Many students have urged the NTA to postpone the June 21 re-test by at least one or two weeks so that aspirants can regain their preparation rhythm and cope with the psychological pressure.

Expressed frustration and anger over repeated paper leak controversies, an aspirant on social media platform 'X' said, "Please NTA listen to us you know how many students have taken wrong step due to this pressure and god knows what will happen others after the re neet, pls we have given you a second chance after all this so its your responsibility to give us students some more time."

Another aspirant said, "Please postpone the re-neet 2026, we are going through so much pain already. You have to think about students; we need time. just deciding on your own, so disappointed."

An aspirant suggested postponing the re-exam on June 28th, saying, "Nta, pls postponed this date to June 28th...students are freaked out..students have just started their re prep..I dont think 1 more week is what they deserve at the least..so make the final NEET date to June 28th."

"We are requesting, please extend the exam date because we have just come back, it's truly hard for us to give the exam just after 9 days, please understand," another X user said.

Questioning NTA over the repeated paper leak incidents, a X user said, "We don’t trust you anymore. You people have injected dishonesty and deceit into the DNA of this generation, and it will be passed on to future generations as well. You have spoiled my life. We hate you, we hate the government, we hate the Indian bureaucracy, and we no longer trust the Indian judiciary."

"Please consider the requests of so many people asking for a later date for NEET. We were under stress for a week after the exam was cancelled, momentum broke, we had other exams & so much more. We're not asking for much. Just shift the date to 5th July. Understand our situation also," an aspirant said in a post on X.

"Students prepared for exams. The system prepared excuses. Paper leaks. Cancellations. Irregularities. India's youth deserve better," another said.

Doctors' advice to aspirants

Psychologist Bhavna Barmi advised aspirants to focus on what remains within their control. "The examination is around the corner, so they can start using good grounding techniques such as mindfulness, which will help them manage their anxiety," she said.

She also encouraged students to follow small, structured daily study routines so that they feel less overwhelmed.

Reassuring aspirants, Barmi added, "A setback doesn't define their entire journey. It's just a curve on the road, and they should see it like that."

Meanwhile, the Delhi Parents Association (DPA) president Aprajita Gautam said the controversy surrounding NEET-UG had deepened students' distrust in the examination system, especially as it came amid reports of issues in other major exams.

"When children are on social media and see one issue after another, they begin to feel that the system is deteriorating," she said, adding that repeated controversies had created a sense of uncertainty among aspirants and parents alike.

According to Gautam, students who had performed well in NEET-UG were particularly affected by the prospect of a re-examination.

"A child who knows he or she has done well will naturally worry whether they will be able to perform at the same level again," she said.

Gautam said the lack of visible accountability had contributed to a growing trust deficit.

"Students and parents will believe in the system only when they see action being taken against those responsible. We often hear that people have been arrested, but there is little information about what happens afterwards," she said. Timely acceptance of responsibility and transparent action against those involved in examination lapses would help restore confidence, she added.

Highlighting the emotional burden on aspirants, Gautam said many students spend years preparing for highly competitive examinations and are now being forced to relive the stress of preparation.

"The child who would normally be enjoying the summer break after the examination is back at home studying again. It is easy for adults to say, 'Just take the exam again', but for students, the psychological impact is much deeper," she said.

Also read- Ahead of NEET 2026 re-exam, paper setters placed under strict isolation