The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, originally scheduled for May 3, following serious allegations of a paper leak. This decision affects over 22 lakh aspirants who are now left waiting for new exam dates, expected to be announced within seven to ten days. NTA Director General Abhishek Singh confirmed that preliminary investigations revealed that some questions circulating before the exam matched those on the actual paper, compromising the integrity of the examination process. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation, registering an FIR under various criminal laws, including the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examination Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024. Investigators suspect that a physical copy of the exam paper was leaked from a printing press in Nashik, Maharashtra, and brought to a doctor in Gurugram, Haryana. This incident has led to protests by student organizations, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), who are questioning the credibility of the NTA. Prominent political figures, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, have criticized the government for mishandling the exam system. Education leaders are now calling for strict punishment for those involved and reforms to restore trust in the examination process.