On Tuesday, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam, which was originally scheduled for May 3. This decision came in light of allegations regarding a paper leak, and the NTA confirmed that the exam would be rescheduled. Abhishek Singh, the Director General of NTA, expressed that this decision was extremely challenging and regrettable for students, parents, and the agency, emphasizing that the integrity of the examination must never be compromised.

Singh informed *News Media* that late on May 7, the agency received multiple WhatsApp messages containing questions resembling those of the actual NEET exam. These messages were promptly forwarded to law enforcement agencies for investigation. He noted that there were no complaints regarding any irregularities on the exam day, and the examination proceeded smoothly; however, due to the seriousness of the paper leak allegations, an investigation was initiated.

The NTA Director General stated that on May 8 and 9, agencies investigated these WhatsApp messages, and by May 10 and 11, information emerged confirming that some allegations were indeed valid. Consequently, the NTA concluded that if there was even a slight doubt regarding the fairness of the examination process, canceling the exam was the most prudent course of action. Singh further mentioned that it would be premature to determine the extent of the paper leak or how many individuals had access to the question paper. He announced that the investigation has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which will ascertain whether the issue was confined to a single state or widespread across multiple states.

In response to inquiries about a printing press in Nashik linked to the case, Singh stated that he did not wish to jump to conclusions before the investigation was complete. He assured that the CBI would thoroughly examine all records, evidence, and allegations to identify those responsible. He also highlighted that the NTA had maintained continuous monitoring before the exams and had investigated several complaints received during that period. The agency had blocked 120 Telegram channels and urged students to report any potential irregularities immediately.