NEET UG 2026 cancelled to protect students’ rights, will not allow malpractices: Dharmendra Pradhan
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the NEET UG 2026 exam was cancelled to safeguard students’ interests, adding that the govt will ensure stricter security measures for the re-exam.
NEET UG 2026 cancelled to protect students’ rights, says Dharmendra Pradhan (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that the NEET UG 2026 re-examination will be conducted on June 21 following the cancellation of the earlier test amid allegations of irregularities and paper leaks.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the decision was taken to protect the interests of students and maintain the credibility of the examination system. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the minister stated that the government would not tolerate any malpractice in national-level entrance examinations.
Pradhan said fresh admit cards for candidates would be issued on or before June 14. He also announced that students would receive an additional 15 minutes during the examination and would be allowed to choose exam centres based on their preference.
The minister said the government acted quickly after complaints were received through the NTA grievance portal suggesting that certain questions appearing in alleged “guess papers” matched those in the actual exam conducted on May 3.
Following preliminary discussions and an internal review, the matter was handed over to central investigating agencies. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now conducting a detailed probe into the alleged irregularities.
‘Zero Tolerance Towards Exam Malpractices’
Pradhan described the issue as part of a larger battle against organised examination fraud networks. He stated that the government maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward malpractice and warned that strict action would be taken against all those involved.
The Education Minister also appealed to students not to believe rumours or misinformation circulating on social media regarding the examination controversy. He assured candidates that every effort was being made to ensure a fair and transparent process.
NEET Likely to Shift to Online Mode
The minister further indicated that the NEET examination could move to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format from next year. According to him, transitioning to an online system may help strengthen examination security and reduce vulnerabilities linked to paper-based tests.
The announcement came after a high-level meeting chaired by the Education Minister to review arrangements for the fresh examination. Officials said the government aims to restore confidence among students and parents following concerns raised over the conduct of the earlier exam.
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