What Sparked the Massive NEET-UG Protest? Students Demand Accountability!

Protest Erupts Over NEET-UG Paper Leak Allegations

New Delhi: A significant demonstration led by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) took place outside Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday, protesting against the alleged leak of the NEET-UG exam paper this year.

Participants, primarily from the Congress party's student wing, displayed placards with messages such as 'PM compromised, paper compromised', 'paper leak, Modi sarkar weak', and 'doctor ki degree bikao hain' (doctor's degree is for sale).

Chants like 'chaatro pe attyachar bandh karo' (stop oppression of students) echoed amid heavy police presence and barricades surrounding Shastri Bhawan.

The NEET-UG examination was conducted on May 3, after which claims of a paper leak emerged, prompting investigations by both the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and the CBI.

In response, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, stating that a new exam date would be communicated later.

The NTA emphasized that this decision was made with the Government of India's approval to ensure transparency and maintain trust in the national examination framework.

The NSUI argued that the cancellation itself indicates significant irregularities and serious failures in the NEET examination process.

They further criticized the central government for its inability to safeguard the futures of countless diligent students.

"Today's cancellation of NEET is a triumph for student activism and reflects the voices of millions of aspirants nationwide. NSUI was among the first to highlight this issue and demand justice for students," remarked NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar.

"If the examination system had integrity, the government wouldn't have had to cancel the exam and initiate a CBI investigation. This clearly highlights the shortcomings of the education ministry and the NTA," he added.

Jakhar also called for the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and proposed a complete ban on the NTA, citing its repeated failures in conducting credible examinations.

The NSUI warned that ongoing controversies surrounding NEET have severely eroded students' trust in the examination system and vowed to continue advocating for educational justice and accountability until those responsible for the scandal are held accountable.