NEET UG 2026 Cancellation Shocks Over 71,000 Students in Telangana
Hyderabad | May 13, 2026 | DeccanLive.com
The cancellation of NEET UG 2026 has come as a major shock to students across Telangana. More than 71,000 students in the state are expected to be affected by the decision.
According to official data, 73,024 students from Telangana registered for the NEET UG 2026 exam, and 71,304 students appeared for it, recording an attendance of 97.64 percent. Students were waiting for the results after finding this year’s question paper comparatively easier. However, the sudden cancellation announcement by the National Testing Agency (NTA) left many students upset and worried.
NEET was introduced in 2016-17 to create a single entrance exam for medical admissions across India. Since 2019, the NTA has been conducting the exam. Over the past few years, however, NEET has faced repeated controversies including paper leaks, delays, and mismanagement.
In 2024, allegations of NEET UG paper leaks surfaced in areas like Hazaribagh in Jharkhand and Patna in Bihar. The matter even reached the Supreme Court of India, after which exams for 1,563 students in affected centres were cancelled and conducted again.
Similarly, NEET PG 2024 was postponed from June 23 to August 11 due to irregularities, causing stress and uncertainty among medical aspirants.
Despite strict rules imposed by the NTA – including dress codes, restrictions on footwear, gadgets, and reporting times – students continue to face difficulties because of repeated issues in the examination process. This year too, students had to appear for the exam in extreme summer heat.
Parents have accused authorities of being strict with students while failing to prevent organised paper leak incidents. Teachers from medical colleges say repeated cancellations and re-examinations can seriously affect students mentally, especially after months of hard work and preparation.
Meanwhile, Damodar Rajanarasimha called the cancellation “very unfortunate.” In a statement, the minister said nearly 70,000 students in Telangana and around 22 lakh students across the country were waiting for results, but the NTA had pushed their future into uncertainty.
He criticised the NTA for failing to conduct the examination properly and said the agency did not learn lessons from past incidents. The minister demanded strict action against those responsible and assured that the Telangana government would support affected students and parents.
