Students leave a NEET-UG examination centre in Kollam, Kerala, on May 3, 2026. The exam was subsequently cancelled on May 12 amid allegations of a question paper leak.
| Photo Credit: C. SURESHKUMAR
Scores of young aspirants across Kerala are keeping their fingers crossed ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for Sunday (June 21, 2026.)
They are hoping that the re-exam will be held without hiccups as they had experienced tremendous stress and anxiety after the NEET-UG exam originally held on May 3, 2026 was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of a question paper leak.
Megha (name changed to protect identity), a native of Vazhakkulam in Ernakulam district, said she had initially thought about not appearing for the re-exam. “However, I was encouraged by my teachers at the coaching institute and my parents to give another try,” she said.
Her friend Anna, who completed her Class 12 from a CBSE school in Kochi, shared a similar feeling. “We had lost the momentum to re-start our preparations as it was difficult to come to terms with the reports of the paper leak. But after a few days, we joined the institute again. Though we could catch up with the preparations, the anxiety remains,” she said.
Concerns shared
Some of the students appearing for the exam on Sunday took to social media to share some of their concerns. “I have been allocated a centre nearly 50 km away from my home. In the exam held on May 3, my centre was only 12 km away from my residence,” said an aspirant. “Do I need to carry two additional photos or three for the re-exam?” another student asked. The trauma caused by the cancellation of the exam had prompted a section of the parents and student to seek professional help.
Dr. C. J John, senior psychiatrist in Kochi, said the cancellation of the exam had inflicted severe emotional damage on many aspirants. “Those who had sought expert help stated that they were worried about the outcome of the re-exam. They remain anxious about whether their performance would go down this time,” he said.
As per official estimates, about 1.1 lakh students in Kerala had registered for the original NEET exam held on May 3.
Published – June 20, 2026 12:09 pm IST
