The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued fresh clarifications for candidates preparing to sit the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, while confirming that the fee refund portal will go live today. The latest announcement comes in the aftermath of the cancellation of the original NEET UG examination held on 3 May, which was scrapped following allegations of a paper leak that prompted nationwide concern and a formal investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).In a detailed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, the agency outlined revised procedures for candidates and clarified concerns relating to exam timing, refunds, examination centres and language preferences. The re-examination is set to be conducted on 21 June in offline pen-and-paper mode at centres across India and overseas.NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam Date, Time and Language DetailsAccording to the NTA, the NEET UG 2026 re-test will be held on Sunday, 21 June, from 2 pm to 5:15 pm. While some students had raised concerns over the examination duration, the agency clarified that the additional 15 minutes are reserved for verification, attendance formalities and document-related procedures before the test begins.The examination will continue to be conducted in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Assamese, Kannada and Odia, ensuring accessibility for students across different linguistic regions.NEET UG 2026 Fee Refund Portal Goes Live TodayA major concern among students after the cancellation of the May examination was whether the fees already paid would be refunded. Addressing the issue, the NTA confirmed that a dedicated online portal for candidates to submit bank account details for refunds will become operational from 21 May 2026.The agency stated that students will not be required to pay any fresh fee to appear for the re-examination. In its official communication, the NTA said the previously collected examination fee would be refunded and the fresh examination would be conducted through the agency’s own resources.Officials further clarified that no fresh application process will be required. Existing candidature data, registration details and examination centre preferences selected during the original May 2026 cycle will automatically be carried forward for the re-test.Can Candidates Change Their Exam City or Language Preference?The NTA has also responded to questions from candidates seeking changes to their examination city or language medium. According to the agency, the language selected at the time of the original application process will remain final and no modifications will be allowed.Clarifying concerns over unavailable city options, the agency explained that certain examination languages are only offered in specific states and cities listed in the official NEET UG 2026 Information Bulletin. As a result, city availability is directly linked to language selection.What Students Should Do If They Faced Issues During the May 3 ExamCandidates who encountered problems during the cancelled examination on 3 May have been advised to contact the NTA Helpdesk through email and submit relevant supporting documents or evidence.The agency asked affected students to write to neetug2026@nta.ac.in regarding examination-related concerns. It also dismissed speculation regarding a possible rescheduling due to clashes with other competitive examinations, making it clear that the 21 June re-exam date will remain unchanged.CBI Investigation Into Alleged NEET Paper Leak ContinuesThe announcement of the re-test comes as the investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak remains underway. According to reports, nine individuals have so far been arrested from cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar.Investigators are currently tracing the financial links behind the alleged leak and identifying individuals who may have knowingly accessed confidential examination material prior to the test.The controversy erupted after reports suggested that a purported “guess paper” circulating online allegedly matched questions that later appeared in the NEET UG examination conducted on 3 May. According to official statements, the NTA received information from a whistleblower on 7 May regarding a possible breach and subsequently verified portions of the claim before escalating the matter.The government later handed over the investigation to the CBI, with the NTA assuring full cooperation to the inquiry by sharing records and supporting materials.NTA Director General Speaks to ANI on InvestigationSpeaking to ANI, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said the probe would be impartial and that every person involved would be identified regardless of their connection to the organisation.“Whether it is somebody from inside or somebody from outside, CBI will do a complete fair inquiry and will identify anyone, whoever it may be — whether inside or outside, that doesn't matter,” Singh told ANI.He further stated that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for creating the situation that led to the cancellation of the examination.With lakhs of aspirants once again preparing for one of India’s most competitive medical entrance tests, the NEET UG 2026 re-examination and the continuing investigation remain under sharp public scrutiny.Inputs from agencies