NEET-UG 2026 cancellation: CBI custody in Nashik after police detainment; protests and political reactions

An explainer noted that details regarding the NEET-UG cancellation and next steps are still evolving, with guidelines awaited from NTA.

CBI's custody of a Nashik-based suspect in the NEET leak case was reported in the evening; the investigation continues.

Former Education Minister Kapil Sibal criticised the Centre, calling it incapable of running fair exams and urged Prime Minister Modi to address those affected in a Mann ki Baat address.

Experts called for urgent reform of the National Testing Agency, citing lax operational capacity, cybersecurity concerns, and poor crisis communication.

The National Students’ Union of India staged protests, burning effigies of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and NTA Chairman Pradeep Joshi.

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal urged the arrest of NTA Director General Abhishek Singh over the NEET paper leak.

The BJD and Congress in Odisha demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET-UG cancellation.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Vice President Kolanukonda Sivaji claimed there have been 89 paper-leak incidents across examinations, describing this as a clear failure of central administration.

The Congress in Karnataka condemned the cancellation, saying mismanagement and hollow administration have harmed students.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad demanded an impartial and time-bound probe by central agencies into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and irregularities.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India condemned the alleged NEET paper leak and the decision to cancel the May 3 exam as a serious failure of the examination system.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of being ‘partners in the theft’ of students’ futures.

DMK president M K Stalin condemned the cancellation on social media, labeling NEET a scam and stating it affects lakhs of aspirants and the future of medical infrastructure.

In the evening, the CBI took into custody a person from Nashik in connection with the alleged NEET paper leak.

Officials said around 22 lakh medical aspirants and their families faced uncertainty about next steps, including fresh exam dates, admit cards, centres, and counselling timelines; official guidelines from NTA awaited.

Activists of the Students’ Federation of India barged into the AG’s office in Nashik to protest the NEET paper leak, clashing with police as barricades were breached and water cannons were used to disperse the crowd.

The National Testing Agency cancelled NEET-UG 2026 exam held on May 3 amid allegations of paper leak; the government asked the CBI to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into irregularities.

Earlier in the day, Nashik Police Crime Branch Unit 2 detained Shubham Khairnar (30), a resident of Nandgaon, in connection with the alleged NEET paper leak, following a request from Rajasthan Police.