By: The Trek News Desk
A large number of candidates stayed away from the re-conducted NEET-UG 2026 examination, with official data showing that more than 2.7 lakh aspirants did not appear compared to the original test. The absentee figure is the highest recorded for the country’s medical entrance examination so far.
The original NEET-UG examination was held on May 3, but the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the test on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak. The matter is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A fresh examination was subsequently conducted on June 21.
According to NTA data, 19,99,895 candidates appeared for the re-examination, compared to around 22.05 lakh candidates who had taken the original exam. The results of the re-test were announced on July 16, with NTA stating that 11.21 lakh candidates qualified in the examination.
A total of 22.79 lakh candidates registered for NEET-UG 2026, almost unchanged from the previous year’s registration figure of 22.76 lakh. However, only 19.99 lakh candidates attended the re-examination, leaving 2,79,848 aspirants absent.
Before this, the highest absentee figure was recorded in 2020, when around 2.30 lakh candidates skipped the exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest numbers have surpassed that record.
The original May 3 examination recorded an attendance rate of around 96.72%, with 22.05 lakh candidates appearing. In comparison, attendance for the re-examination dropped to 87.72%, making it the second-lowest turnout since 2020.
NEET-UG is the country’s biggest undergraduate medical entrance examination, attracting nearly 25 lakh applicants every year. Conducted by the NTA, the exam is used for admissions to medical colleges across India.
For the MBBS programme, approximately 1.08 lakh seats are available nationwide, including around 56,000 seats in government medical colleges and nearly 52,000 seats in private institutions. NEET-UG scores are also used for admission to dental, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha courses.
Following the controversy over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the examination process, the Central Government has indicated that NEET-UG may be conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) format in the future.
The Education Ministry and Health Ministry have been holding discussions for several years over whether the examination should continue in the traditional pen-and-paper format or move completely online. The recent controversy has intensified discussions around adopting a digital examination system for future editions of NEET-UG.
Source: News Agencies
