Protests erupt in Delhi after NEET UG 2026 cancellation over alleged paper leak

NSUI stages protest outside Shastri Bhawan

Members of the National Students' Union of India staged a protest outside Shastri Bhawan against the National Testing Agency over concerns regarding an alleged paper leak.

The protesters took to the streets in large numbers carrying banners and raising slogans questioning the integrity of the entrance examination.

Security has been tightened around Shastri Bhawan as large numbers of protesters camped around the building.

Exam cancelled after ‘guess paper’ controversy

The examination was cancelled after questions from a circulated “guess paper” allegedly matched the main examination that was conducted on May 3.

The NTA has decided to reschedule the examination, in which nearly 22 lakh candidates had appeared, on a separate date.

The agency posted on X: “This decision has been taken in the interest of students and in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests. The Agency is conscious that re-conduct will cause real and significant inconvenience to candidates and their families.

“NTA does not take that consequence lightly. The decision has been taken because the alternative would have caused greater and more lasting damage to that trust.”

Echoes of previous NEET controversy

Two years ago, a similar controversy had erupted after allegations of a NEET-UG paper leak surfaced, with 67 students securing perfect scores of 720 in the entrance examination.

The NTA had then clarified that some candidates were awarded grace marks due to a faulty question and logistical delays in paper distribution at certain centres.

However, a Bihar Police investigation revealed that the exam paper had been leaked to a select group of candidates.