The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) re-examination, conducted on June 21, saw a significant drop in attendance, with over 2.7 lakh fewer candidates appearing for the exam compared to the original test held on May 3. According to official data, 19,99,895 candidates appeared for the re-examination, down from 22.05 lakh candidates who took the original NEET-UG examination. The re-examination was necessitated after the original exam was cancelled on May 12 due to allegations of paper leak, which is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the results of the re-examination on Thursday, with 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying for admission into undergraduate medical courses. The attendance for the re-examination stood at 87.72%, making it the second-lowest recorded since 2020. In contrast, the original examination held on May 3 had recorded an attendance of 96.72%.
The low attendance has raised concerns, with many attributing it to the controversy surrounding the paper leak and the subsequent re-examination. The NEET-UG is the largest undergraduate entrance exam in the country, with over 22.79 lakh candidates registering for the exam in 2026, only marginally higher than 22.76 lakh registrations in 2025. The exam is conducted by the NTA for admission into medical colleges, with 1,08,000 seats available for the MBBS course.
The results of the exam are also used for admissions into undergraduate courses in dentistry, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. Following the controversy over the paper leak, the Centre announced that the NEET-UG exam will now be conducted as a computer-based test (CBT) instead of the traditional pen-and-paper mode. The move is aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future and ensuring the integrity of the exam.
The results of the re-examination have also highlighted the stellar performance of women candidates, who accounted for over 58% of the qualified candidates. Women also outshone men in the overall qualification rate, with 56.8% of women who appeared clearing the exam compared to 55.1% of men. The top 17 ranks in the exam were distributed across eight states, with Uttar Pradesh generating the highest number of successful candidates.
The NTA has warned candidates against fraudulent phone calls, texts, or websites promising seat blocking or score manipulation for money, and has advised them to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
