NEET 2026 re-exam date out: NTA confirms 21 June for UG medical entrance test after paper leak row

NEET 2026 re-exam date: National Testing Agency (NTA) has finalised 21 June for the UG medical entrance test amid a probe into a paper leak. The UG medical entrance test, conducted on 3 May, was cancelled after a “guess paper” containing over 400 questions circulated widely on WhatsApp and Telegram groups before the exam. It is alleged that over 100 questions in Biology and Chemistry were identical to those that appeared in the NEET examination.

NTA in a post on X stated, “National Testing Agency (NTA), with the approval of the Government of India, has scheduled the re-examination of NEET (UG) 2026 on Sunday, 21 June 2026.”

While announcing the examination date, the agency urged candidates and parents to rely only on its official channels for updates on the national-level screening test.

Website to track and helpline email ID and numbers to follow are listed below:

• neet-ug@nta.ac.in
• neet-ug@nta.ac.in
• 011-40759000
• 011-69227700

This development comes a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan convened a high-level meeting at his residence to review preparations for the re-conduct of the NEET (UG) examination. The key meeting was attended by Secretary (Higher Education) Vineet Joshi, Secretary (School Education) Sanjay Kumar, Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA) Abhishek Singh, CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh, and the commissioners of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), along with other senior officials, PTI reported.

According to reports, the leak originated in Maharashtra's Nashik and spread through Haryana. In several districts of Rajasthan, including Sikar, Jaipur, and Jamwa Ramgarh, it was printed and distributed. Eventually, the leaked version reached candidates in Bihar, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and several other states.

As information about the malpractice surfaced, the probe revealed that at least 45 individuals were involved. Nearly 22.8 lakh students registered for the competitive exam, which was administered by the NTA across 551 Indian cities and at 14 overseas centres. Over 155 students were found to have directly benefited from the leaks.

What did Dharmendra Pradhan say about NEET 2026 re-exam and paper leak probe?

Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan addresses a press conference said, "NTA has issued new date for NEET-UG Exam. The re-exam will be held on June 21. Our highest priority is the students and their future. The government has always remained sensitive toward the hard work and efforts of students. The examination was conducted on May 3. By May 7, objections were received through the NTA’s grievance redressal system stating that certain questions appearing in the alleged 'guess papers' had also appeared in this year’s question set. Immediately, discussions were held, and both the NTA and the government, along with the Higher Education Department, initiated a preliminary inquiry. The matter was then handed over to the concerned agencies of the Government of India."

He added, "At first glance, the issue appeared to be connected to two or three states, so coordination was established with the agencies of those states as well. The process effectively began on the night of May 7 and continued from May 8 onward. Within three to four days... on the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th... when we received clarity and became certain that questions had indeed been leaked under the guise of 'guess papers', we took action on May 12 in the interest of students. We did not want any deserving student to be deprived of their rights because of the conspiracy of education mafias or because an undeserving candidate benefited through unfair means."

CBI arrests seven in paper leak probe

In connection with the investigation into the alleged irregularities, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was roped in, following which several private centres in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Gujarat came under serious scrutiny. The CBI on Thursday arrested two more accused, bringing the total arrests in the case to seven.

“Two more accused persons, one from Pune and one from Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, have been arrested in the last 24 hours. The total number of arrests goes up to seven,” ANI reported. The arrested accused were identified as Dhananjay Lokhanda from Ahilyanagar (Maharashtra) and Manisha Waghmare from Pune (Maharashtra).

Five other accused were arrested on 13 May—three from Jaipur, one from Gurugram, and one from Nashik. A CBI team visited the house of the arrested accused persons located in Jipur's Jamwaramgarh on Thursday and recorded the statements of the accused Mangilal Biwal's and Dinesh Biwal's family members. According to police, another arrested accused, Vikas Biwal, also belongs to the same family.