UPTET 2021 was cancelled on the morning of 28 November 2021 — with about 20 lakh candidates en route — after the paper circulated on WhatsApp. UP STF arrested 23 people the same day; the probe pointed to the outsourced printing arrangement, and the director of the Examination Regulatory Authority's office responsible (PNP secretary) was arrested and suspended in early December. The re-exam was held on 23 January 2022 with candidates travelling free.