NEET UG 2026 Cancellation Amplifies NTA’s Ongoing Controversies Amidst Student Uncertainty

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2026, which was scheduled for May 3. This decision follows a review of findings by the agency in collaboration with central authorities and investigative inputs from law enforcement. The examination will be reconducted, with new dates to be announced later.

According to official data, approximately 22.7 lakh candidates registered for this year’s NEET UG examination, with over 22 lakh students actually participating, resulting in an impressive attendance rate of 96.9 percent.

Overview of the NTA

The NEET exam is administered by the NTA, a government entity established to oversee various entrance examinations, including JEE, NEET, and UGC NET. Founded in 2017, the NTA operates independently under the Department of Higher Education within the Ministry of Education. The agency is responsible for conducting major undergraduate entrance exams, including JEE-Main for engineering and CUET-UG for various undergraduate courses.

The NTA is governed by a 14-member body, currently chaired by Professor (Dr.) Pradeep Kumar Joshi, who was appointed in August 2023 for a three-year term. Dr. Joshi is a former Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and has a background in academia.

In 2015, the Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of the All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Test (AIPMT), which was conducted by the CBSE. NEET-UG was subsequently introduced in 2016 to replace AIPMT as the single medical entrance examination. Initially managed by the CBSE, the NTA took over the administration of NEET in 2019.

As reported by www.timesnownews.com, more than 50 lakh students participate in these examinations annually. The NTA received an initial allocation of ₹25 crore for its first year and is funded by the Department of Higher Education.

Controversies Surrounding the NTA

The NTA has faced numerous controversies and allegations since its inception, particularly concerning the integrity of high-stakes examinations. The future of countless students hinges on these assessments, yet the agency has struggled to establish a fair and transparent examination process.

Notable Incidents

In the NEET (UG) 2020 examination, a reporting error led to the tragic suicide of a student, Vidhi Suryavanshi, from Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. The NTA initially reported that she scored only 6 marks, but it was later revealed that her actual score was 590.

In 2024, allegations of irregularities and a paper leak surfaced during the NEET exam. Reports indicated that 67 candidates achieved top ranks with a 99.997129 percentile, with six candidates hailing from the same examination center.

The NTA also faced scrutiny for awarding compensatory marks to students. Questions arose when candidates scored 718 and 719 marks, which seemed inconsistent with the +4 and -1 marking scheme. The NTA clarified that around 1,563 candidates were compensated for time lost, resulting in revised scores ranging from -20 to 720 marks. Among these, two candidates received scores of 718 and 719 due to these adjustments.

The number of top scorers increased as well, with 44 students’ marks raised from 715 to 720. This adjustment was made because the question paper was based on the new NCERT textbook, while some students used older versions, leading to a five-mark award for those who selected one of the two options.

The NTA also encountered backlash after dropping 12 questions due to errors in the final answer key of the JEE Main 2025 exam held in January. The error rate in this examination rose to 1.6 percent, exceeding the previously acceptable limit of 0.6 percent.

Implications of the Cancellation

The cancellation of NEET UG 2026 has reignited discussions about the NTA’s accountability and the adequacy of India’s educational infrastructure to conduct examinations safely. The ongoing controversies surrounding the agency raise concerns about its ability to protect the futures of millions of students.

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Published on 2026-05-12 15:21:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk