Desk Correspondent , New Delhi — The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following the exposure of a massive, multi-state paper leak network, scheduling a retest for June 21. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested nine individuals across five states, including two members of the NTA’s own paper-setting panel: botany expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare from Pune and PV Kulkarni from Latur. Investigators allege Mandhare leaked the biology section while Kulkarni compromised the chemistry portion, funneling the questions through a network that included Pune-based beauty parlour owner Manisha Waghmare and several others.

The breach came to light after an internal investigation traced the leak back to the night of May 2, hours before the national medical entrance exam commenced. In Sikar, Rajasthan, a coaching institute teacher named Rajat and his student discovered two forwarded PDFs containing handwritten chemistry and typed biology questions. A rigorous three-hour cross-examination revealed an exact match for 135 actual exam questions. The student had received the documents from his landlord, whose son, a medical student in Kerala, had accessed them a night prior to the exam. This timeline confirmed that the breach originated at the agency level rather than local test centers.

Following a tip-off and assistance from a local Rajasthan Administrative Service officer, the whistleblowers emailed the NTA on May 7, providing comprehensive evidence, including timestamps and comparative material. Although initial attempts to register a local police complaint stalled due to procedural delays, the escalating evidence forced the case into the hands of the CBI. The agency's swift crackdown exposed an insider network operating deep within the exam-setting infrastructure, prompting the complete cancellation of the initial test to protect meritorious students.