Demand in Supreme Court Following NEET UG 2026 Cancellation: Plea to Remove NTA and Conduct Re-examination Under Judicial Supervision

The cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 examination has already caused nationwide disturbance. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled this medical entrance examination, which bears upon the future of approximately 22,00,000 students, following allegations of a question paper leak. Investigations have revealed that the question paper had circulated across various states nearly 45 hours before the start of the exam.

Several individuals have already been arrested in connection with this incident, and the responsibility for the investigation has been given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, demanding the removal of the NTA and the organisation of a fresh examination.

According to sources, the track of the question paper leak first came out in Nashik, Maharashtra. It is alleged that Shubham Khairnar, a BAMS student and resident of Nashik, purchased the question paper from a suspect in Pune for approximately ₹10 lakh. Subsequently, the paper was sold to a buyer in Haryana for ₹15 lakh.

Investigators claim that the question paper was shared via an encrypted messaging application. Therefore, the leaked paper reached not only Maharashtra but also several other states, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Kerala, and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has already begun an inquiry. According to reports, Shubham Khairnar was arrested on Tuesday while he was on his way to a temple. Investigators have revealed that, in an attempt to hide his identity, he (Shubham Khairnar) had cut his hair and changed his physical appearance. The investigation has further revealed that advanced technology was utilised within this paper leak network.

The matter has grown significantly in Sikar, Rajasthan, a region famous as a major coaching hub. The primary source of the leak was a student studying in Kerala who sent a "guess paper" PDF to his father. Therefore, after the examination finished, Chemistry and Biology teachers linked the document. They claim that 45 out of the 108 Chemistry questions matched the paper. Furthermore, 90 out of the 204 Biology questions were also the same.

The Rajasthan Special Operations Group has already arrested 15 individuals in connection with this case so far. According to reports, the list of accused includes the alleged masterminds, Manish Yadav and Rakesh Mandwariya.

Investigators suspect that this ring may have links to a consultancy network based in Sikar. Additionally, the role of several coaching institutes is also being scrutinised.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, claiming that the NTA's "systemic failure" in conducting the NEET examination has become clear.

Furthermore, FAIMA's petition primarily demands the following: replacing the NTA with a new autonomous body; reconducting the NEET UG 2026 examination under judicial supervision; constituting a monitoring committee led by a retired Supreme Court judge; appointing cybersecurity experts and forensic scientists; implementing a digital locking system for question papers; conducting the examination in CBT mode (a key demand); and publishing centre-wise results. These prayers have been submitted through Advocate Tanvi Dubey.