UGC-NET 2026 re-test revives 2024 paper leak row: What happened two years ago?

UGC-NET's 2026 re-test has brought back memories of the 2024 cancellation, when NTA scrapped the entire examination following inputs of a possible paper leak. A CBI probe later found the purported leaked-paper screenshot was doctored. For candidates, however, the cancellation meant months of preparation had to start again.UGC-NET's 2026 re-test has brought back memories of the 2024 cancellation, when NTA scrapped the entire examination following inputs of a possible paper leak. (Photo: PTI)For UGC-NET candidates, 2026 has brought back an uncomfortable question: how many times can an examination meant to shape an academic career go wrong?The National Testing Agency has ordered a re-examination for English, Commerce and Sociology after a panel found factual, typographical and translation errors in the papers, along with repeated questions from earlier UGC-NET cycles.The re-tests are scheduled for September 9 and 10. For candidates who have already spent months preparing, the announcement means returning to a preparation cycle they thought was over.For some, the frustration is even more familiar. A 23-year-old Sociology aspirant preparing for Junior Research Fellowship appeared for UGC-NET in both 2024 and 2026. In a first-person account published by Times Now, he described facing uncertainty around the examination for a second time."But sadly, NTA either does not realise or doesn't care about the months-long efforts we put in for a single exam," he writes, on the disappointment of encountering the multiple issues in the Sociology paper. His experience puts a human face on a larger problem: candidates are once again having to adjust academic plans because of issues at the examination level."Why should students bear the consequences of mistakes that were not theirs?" he writes in his account.But while the two episodes look similar from a candidate's perspective, the reasons behind the 2024 and 2026 disruptions are very different.THE UGC-NET 2024 PAPER CANCELLATIONIn June 2024, NTA conducted the UGC-NET examination on June 18. The very next day, the agency announced that the entire examination was being cancelled.The trigger was intelligence input indicating that the question paper may have been leaked. The government handed the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for investigation.That episode became a major controversy because the cancellation affected the entire examination, forcing candidates who had already appeared for the test to prepare and sit for it again.There was another twist.The CBI investigation subsequently found that the purported leaked-paper screenshot was doctored and reported no evidence of an actual paper leak.So, technically, the 2024 episode should not be described simply as an exam cancelled because a paper leak was proven. The exam was scrapped after intelligence inputs raised concerns about a possible leak, while the subsequent investigation found no evidence of an actual leak.WHY IS UGC-NET BEING RECONDUCTED IN 2026?The 2026 controversy started differently.Candidates flagged errors in the English, Commerce and Sociology papers. These included spelling mistakes involving names of scholars, incorrect book titles, grammatical and translation problems, punctuation errors and wording issues.The English paper also reportedly contained questions repeated from earlier UGC-NET examinations. In Sociology, candidates pointed to several misspelt names, while Commerce candidates reported repeated questions as well.After reviewing the complaints, an NTA panel recommended re-conducting the three examinations instead of simply dropping the disputed questions.The English paper will be held on September 9 from 9 am to noon, Commerce from 3 pm to 6 pm the same day, and Sociology on September 10 from 9 am to noon.Candidates will not have to pay another examination fee.SAME FRUSTRATION, DIFFERENT REASONSNevertheless, the UGC-NET 2026 re-exam news has come as a shock to many after weeks of waiting for the answer keys."Last cycle, the answer keys were released within a week of the examination. This time, we ran social media campaigns demanding their release. After waiting for two months, we are now being told that the exam will be conducted again. But on what basis has the examination been cancelled? We deserve an answer," an aspirant said.UGC-NET is not just another competitive examination. It determines eligibility for JRF, assistant professorship and, in relevant cases, PhD admissions. A delay can affect research plans, admission timelines and preparation for the next cycle.That is why the 2026 retest has revived memories of 2024, especially among candidates who have experienced both disruptions.The biggest difference is that 2024 saw the entire UGC-NET cancelled over a suspected leak, while 2026 involves three subjects being reconducted after an expert review found multiple paper errors and repeated questions.Two years apart, the circumstances are not the same. But for candidates preparing for careers in academia, the message feels painfully familiar: when the examination system falters, it is their calendars, plans and preparation that have to be reset.- EndsPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 12:11 IST