PANAJI
The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 has left thousands of medical aspirants in Goa staring at uncertainty, with students and parents expressing shock, anxiety and frustration over the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) decision to scrap the examination following allegations of paper leak and administrative lapses.
Candidates who had spent months preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance examination now face the prospect of restarting their preparation without clarity on when the fresh examination will be conducted.
The NTA has stated that revised dates for the re-examination will be announced through official channels in the coming days. It has also clarified that registration data, candidature details and examination centres chosen for the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward, and no fresh registrations will be required.
However, the announcement has done little to ease the concerns of students and parents already under emotional and academic pressure.
Speaking to The Goan, NEET aspirant Mayank Prabhudesai described the development as “very traumatizing”.
“I already had months of sleepless nights before answering the May 3 NEET examination and when I was finally happy and relaxed that my papers went smoothly, this came as a huge shock. Now the entire preparatory process starts all over again and we don’t even know when it will happen,” he said emotionally.
Parents too questioned the credibility and fairness of the examination system, blaming the NTA for alleged administrative failures.
Mohan Agarwal criticised the authorities over the reported paper leak and demanded accountability.
“What is the fault of our child or rather all those kids who are suffering because of a faulty system? My child has been under mental stress ever since she heard the news. Is it possible for children to go through the entire examination process once again? And what guarantee is there that such lapses will not happen again?” he asked.
Another aspirant said the cancellation had severely affected the mental health of students who appeared for the examination with hopes of securing admission to medical colleges this year.
“This is a dream not only for children but for entire families. Many students have been preparing since Class VI or VII. They believed they were just a few months away from entering medical college and beginning a new chapter in life. Suddenly they are being told to appear for the exam again after weeks or months of uncertainty,” the student said.
The cancellation is also expected to significantly delay the medical admission process across the country. NEET-UG scores are used for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and allied medical courses in government and private institutions nationwide.
As counselling can begin only after declaration of results, the admission cycle is now likely to be pushed back by several weeks or even months.
Officials from the Directorate of Technical Education said the application process for JEE and NEET-based admissions had already commenced. While admissions linked to JEE scores will continue as scheduled, the process for NEET-based courses is expected to face delays due to the cancellation.
Students and parents have now urged the authorities to ensure transparency and fool-proof arrangements for the re-conducted examination to prevent further distress among aspirants.
Reacting to the cancellation, Vyankatesh Prabhudesai, Principal Mushtifund Aryan High Secondary school said, “as an academician, I feel it is extremely unfortunate and deeply distressing for lakhs of sincere students. If allegations of paper leak and malpractice are true, strict and exemplary action must be taken against all those involved”.
He further said, “the authorities must ensure that the fresh examination is conducted in a completely transparent, secure, and fair manner so that students regain confidence in the system”.
