NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency has officially announced that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate medical courses will be re-conducted across the country on Sunday, June 21, 2026. This decisive move comes after days of intense national scrutiny, public outrage and a fast moving federal investigation into a catastrophic question paper leak that forced the cancellation of the initial exam.
The crisis began shortly after more than 2.2 million medical aspirants appeared for the highly competitive national test on May 3, 2026. Within days intelligence reports revealed that the examination paper had been compromised and circulated up to forty-eight hours before the scheduled test time.
Acknowledging the scale of the breach and the compromise to academic merit the National Testing Agency took the unprecedented step of canceling the pan-India exam on Tuesday, May 12, sparking widespread anger and anxiety among students who had spent years preparing for the single-day test.
The gravity of the situation prompted immediate federal intervention, with the Central Bureau of Investigation launching a rapid crackdown on the paper leak network. Investigators successfully traced key distribution links to Maharashtra leading to the high-profile arrests of multiple suspects including a woman in the districts of Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar.
To resolve the growing uncertainty regarding the academic calendar, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan convened a high-level emergency meeting at his residence on Thursday, May 14.
The crucial strategy session was attended by top bureaucratic leadership, including the Higher Education Secretary, School Education Secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education Chairman, and the Director-General of the National Testing Agency.
The committee finalized the logistical roadmap to safely re-administer the examination without putting further financial or procedural burdens on the affected candidates.
Following the directive of the central government, the National Testing Agency released its formal announcement on its official social media platforms, confirming the June 21 date.
The agency strongly advised candidates and parents to ignore unverified rumors and rely strictly on official communication channels. Dedicated helplines have been set up to address student grievances, while administrative sources confirm that candidates will not be charged any additional fees for the rescheduled national test.
15-Minute Extension in Exam Duration
“We have implemented certain improvements regarding the examination. We will refund the fees for the upcoming exam, which is scheduled to take place shortly. The fee for this next examination will be waived entirely,” ensuring that no financial burden is placed upon the students.
He further stated that students would have the option to select a city of their choice as their examination center. The duration of the examination has been extended by 15 minutes; the exam will commence at 2:00 PM and conclude at 5:15 PM. Admit cards for the examination will be made available by June 14. This information was provided by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
7 Arrested So Far in NEET Paper Leak Case
The CBI has arrested seven individuals in connection with this case to date. Of these, five individuals Mangilal Binwal from Rajasthan; his brother Dinesh Binwal and son Vikas Binwal from Jamwaramgarh; Yash Yadav from Gurugram, Haryana; and Shubham Khairnar from Nashik were produced before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi.
The court has remanded all five accused to seven days of custody. Additionally, Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the CBI has also arrested Manisha Waghmare, a beautician from Pune, and Dhananjay Lokhande from Nashik.
