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An unacceptable breach of faith
For a second time in three years, NEET exam integrity has been compromised by a paper leak. The NTA canceled the 2026 NEET after a guess paper with at least 120 questions matched the actual exam, with circulation traced to Rajasthan and potential spread to Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala, highlighting systemic gaps since 2024.
Why It Matters
Repeated leaks erode trust in national exams that determine access to medical education. The article calls for transparent, far-reaching reforms to prevent future breaches and restore faith among millions of aspirants.
Timeline
4 Events
May 12, 2026: NTA cancels NEET 2026; leakage spread to multiple states
May 12, 2026
The National Testing Agency announced the cancellation of the 2026 NEET, saying the breach was far more serious. Officials said the handwritten guess paper may have reached thousands in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala. The agency has not yet announced a new date, and the delay will have cascading effects on counselling, admissions, and courses.
May 3, 2026: guess paper matches NEET paper
May 3, 2026
At least 120 questions in a handwritten guess paper, circulated first in Rajasthan, were found to be common with the NEET exam paper on May 3.
Post-2024 NEET leak reforms: seven-member committee formation
2024
Following the 2024 incident, the government formed a seven-member committee led by former Indian Space Research Organisation chief K Radhakrishnan to propose sweeping reforms for conducting the exams, focusing on security, data protocol, and agency restructuring.
Supreme Court ruling on NEET retest after 2024 leak
2024
The Supreme Court refrained from ordering a retest of the 2024 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduates, stating that the material on record did not show any systemic breach.