The cancellation of the May 3, 2026, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exam has caused distress among candidates in Tamil Nadu. Students pointed out that this is the second such instance in three years.

Varsha R., a candidate who had appeared for the NEET exam for the third time, expressed her complete disappointment. “How could the NTA [National Testing Agency] be so careless? How can we trust them to conduct this exam correctly again? We sacrificed our college years, our youth, and many comforts to prepare for this exam and become doctors. We had just started to relax and regain a sense of normalcy; now, the stress and anxiety are back,” she said.

The NTA cancelled the exam amid allegations of a paper leak, with the Union government directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the “irregularities.” This decision follows a probe by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) into the leak. The alleged irregularities centre on a ‘guess paper’ circulated before the exam that reportedly contained questions which closely matched the actual paper.

Ponmana Selvan R., a government school student who appeared for the exam for the first time, has decided to pivot to engineering. He had balanced his NEET preparation with his Board exams. “I had so much fear regarding the exam. I can’t face it again. The centre is also far from my house, and there is no one to take me or guide me. I’d rather not go through it again. I’d rather give up on my dream of becoming a doctor,” he said.

Uncertainty over new schedule

The uncertainty surrounding the release of new dates and procedures has also caused a stir among candidates. Saranya V. also expressed shock and disappointment over the cancellation. “A similar instance in 2024 created so much panic among us; we were traumatised by the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding it. However, the NTA raised the cut-off then. We have now gotten used to this sort of treatment. Many of us have started preparing already,” said Saranya, who has appeared for the exam three times.

Educationist and founder of AhaGuru Education Technology, Balaji Sampath, said that the cancellation was a massive shock and added significant stress to students, given the uncertainty surrounding the next exam. “If they had at least released the new exam date while announcing the cancellation, it would have helped manage the stress. Many students would have only just started relaxing after the exam,” he said.

Need for better structures

Noting that the NTA needs to tighten controls for such a high-stakes exam, taken by over 22 lakh candidates annually, he suggested that a two-level exam structure is necessary. He argued this would deter cheating and prevent paper leaks. “There also needs to be multiple sets of question papers so that if any one paper is leaked, only that set would be singled out,” he added.