After the medical entrance exam NEET-UG, which was cancelled following allegations of irregularities in the examination process, will be re-conducted on June 21.
The exam was scheduled to be conducted on May 3. After the question paper leak, the exam was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA), a move that impacted lakhs of medical aspirants across the country. The CBI is presently investigating the irregularities linked to the examination.
"The National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has scheduled the re-examination of NEET (UG) 2026 on Sunday, 21 June 2026," a senior official said.
The re-exam date was announced following a high-level meeting held on Thursday at the residence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to review preparations for conducting the fresh exams.
Protests erupted in several cities after the cancellation of the exam, with workers of the National Students' Union of India staging demonstrations against the alleged paper leak and exam irregularities.
While addressing the media on Friday, Pradhan said that there is a need to move towards a computer-based test system from next year. "The NEET examinations should be shifted to an online mode," he said. Presently, the examinations are conducted on a paper-based format.
He also appealed to students not to fall for rumours surrounding the NEET examination controversy. "The government accepts the lapse and is committed to fixing the system," he said. He further added that the Education Ministry takes responsibility for the breach in the system.
He noted that despite the implementation of recommendations from the Radhakrishnan Committee for the 2025 and 2026 exams, irregularities still occurred.
Pradhan said that the NTA will refund the full amount collected as the examination fees. He also said that no further charges will be collected from the candidates for the June 21 re-examination.
"The candidates will be given an opportunity to choose their preferred exam city, with a one-week window provided for this process. A detailed notice regarding the revised arrangements will be issued by the NTA by evening," he said.