NEET 2026: Protests in India after medical entrance test scrapped over leak claims

The cancellation of a crucial exam held earlier in May for admission to medical colleges over allegations of a paper leak has sparked protests in the Indian capital, Delhi. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), known as NEET-UG, is the gateway to studying medicine in India and is required for joining medical colleges across the country. Nearly 2.28 million candidates wrote the exam on 3 May at more than 5,000 centres across India. But within days, allegations of a paper leak sparked anger among students and parents, with protests and political backlash mounting through the week. On Tuesday, the federal government's National Testing Agency (NTA) - which conducts the exam - said that based on its findings and an ongoing investigation, "the present examination process could not be allowed to stand". Fresh dates for a retest have not been announced yet, raising concerns among students and parents over possible delays to the admission process. Indian media reports suggest investigators believe the alleged leak may have originated in the western state of Rajasthan, days before the exam was held. A senior Rajasthan police official told news agency ANI that they were