Dehradun, May 12: Students in Dehradun are grappling with disappointment following the cancellation of the NEET (UG) 2026 medical entrance exam due to allegations of a paper leak. The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation on Tuesday, following the exam conducted on May 3, and has referred the matter to the CBI for investigation.
Outside coaching institutes on Rajpur Road, students displayed visible anger and sadness. Many had taken a year or two off to prepare, and the news of a retest has added to their mental stress. Students expressed that while those responsible for the leak should face consequences, hardworking candidates should not be penalized.
In conversations with students preparing for NEET, many voiced concerns over the credibility of the examination process, especially after facing controversies for the second consecutive year. Those who felt confident about their performance are now anxious about the need to prepare again to the same level.
Nikhil, a student from Dehradun, stated that the cancellation has severely impacted those who have dedicated years to their studies. “Many students focused solely on their studies, sacrificing their social lives. Those who performed well are now facing depression. The government must take strict action against those involved in the leak,” he said.
Another student, Arib, who had been preparing online since the 11th grade, shared, “I worked hard for this exam, but now I have to start all over again. This isn’t just an exam; it’s tied to our s and our families’ hopes.”
Dehradun is considered a major hub for medical and competitive exam preparation in Uttarakhand, attracting students from various districts as well as neighboring states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. The cancellation has thus affected a large number of students.
One student mentioned that he had joined a coaching institute this year, hoping for a transparent examination process. “There have been ongoing controversies for the past few years. Now we have to endure the stress of preparing for the exam again,” he lamented.
Students are calling for stricter Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from examination agencies to prevent such incidents in the future and alleviate the mental pressure on candidates.
Investigations revealed that the paper leak was allegedly organized, with claims that a ‘question bank’ containing over 300 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology was involved. Reports suggest that 150 of these questions appeared in the NEET exam, which consists of a total of 180 questions.
The investigation also indicated that the question bank was disseminated via WhatsApp, with connections traced to Rajasthan, Kerala, Bihar, and Maharashtra. The Rajasthan SOG has already arrested several individuals in connection with the case.
The NEET UG exam faced controversies last year as well, with evidence of a paper leak surfacing after the exam conducted on May 5, 2024. Although the Supreme Court declined to annul the entire exam, it did order a retest for 1,539 students, leading to significant disputes over the results.