NEET Leak Row Sparks Political Storm After Exam Cancellation
Opposition attacks Centre as NTA scraps NEET-UG 2026 over alleged question paper leak
- NTA cancels NEET-UG 2026 after alleged paper leak
- Opposition parties accuse Centre of failing students
- CBI to investigate leak linked to multiple states
- Student groups demand transparent and time-bound probe
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th May: The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 over allegations of a question paper leak has triggered a massive political controversy, with Opposition parties attacking the Centre and accusing it of failing to protect the future of lakhs of students.
The National Testing Agency cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) conducted on May 3 after inputs from central agencies and law enforcement bodies raised concerns over the integrity of the examination process.
The examination is mandatory for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country and was taken this year by nearly 23 lakh candidates across 551 cities in India and 14 abroad.
The NTA said the “present examination process could not be allowed to stand” and announced that fresh dates for the examination would be declared later.
Leak Trail Linked to Multiple States
According to sources, investigators traced the alleged origin of the leak to Nashik in Maharashtra before the paper reportedly spread to Gurugram in Haryana and Jaipur in Rajasthan.
Officials said Biology questions circulated before the examination allegedly matched those in the actual paper.
The Opposition targeted the BJP after reports suggested all three states linked to the leak trail are ruled by the party.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The hard work, sacrifices and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been crushed by this corrupt BJP regime,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
He described the leak as “a crime against the future of the youth” and alleged that corruption had overtaken the education system.
Opposition Escalates Attack
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot alleged that the BJP government in Rajasthan attempted to suppress information related to the leak for nearly two weeks.
Gehlot, however, welcomed the NTA’s decision to cancel the exam and hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
“The cancellation of the NEET UG examination clearly indicates that irregularities occurred on a massive scale,” Gehlot said.
He also accused the BJP government of earlier concealing an alleged OMR sheet scam linked to recruitment examinations in Rajasthan.
Medical, Student Bodies Demand Accountability
The Federation of All India Medical Association demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible for the leak.
FAIMA national chairperson Jaideep Kumar Choudhary said the incident had “shattered the trust of lakhs of sincere aspirants”.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad also called for a fair and transparent probe into the controversy.
The ABVP said any compromise with the credibility of entrance examinations was unacceptable and urged the NTA to maintain complete transparency while communicating with students and parents.
Meanwhile, student protests erupted in several cities, including demonstrations by the National Students’ Union of India near Shastri Bhawan in Delhi.
The NTA said all candidature and registration details from the cancelled examination would remain valid for the reconducted exam and candidates would not be required to pay additional fees.
