Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the NEET UG exam will be fully computer-based starting next year to ensure fairness. He revealed this during a press conference on May 15, 2026. A re-exam for affected students has been scheduled for June 21.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) canceled the original NEET-UG exam on May 12 after receiving reports of possible irregularities. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been asked to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged paper leak.
Pradhan explained that the use of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets was the main reason for the leak. He assured students that their fees would be refunded and that those taking the re-exam would not have to pay again. Students will also get to choose their preferred exam city, and the exam duration has been extended by 15 minutes to allow time for attendance formalities.
The Education Minister emphasized that the government is committed to preventing such issues in the future. He stated that all students should receive their admit cards by June 14. Pradhan also defended the NTA, saying it was established based on Supreme Court recommendations and handles exams for millions of students annually.
He added that the leak investigation revealed a conspiracy involving the “education mafia” to cheat deserving students out of their rightful seats. Despite following the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations, the leak still occurred, leading to the exam’s cancellation on May 12.