The cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 examination following allegations of a paper leak has triggered strong political reactions across the country, with several opposition leaders accusing the central government of failing to protect students’ futures.
The medical entrance examination, conducted on May 3 for more than 22 lakh aspirants, was cancelled amid concerns over irregularities and alleged question paper leaks. The decision has led to widespread anxiety among students and parents, many of whom had spent months preparing for one of India’s most competitive exams.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the government, alleging that corruption and negligence had damaged the credibility of the education system. In a social media post, he said students’ hard work and sacrifices had been destroyed by repeated examination failures and paper leak incidents.
Rahul Gandhi also claimed that students continue to face emotional stress, financial burden and uncertainty whenever such controversies emerge, while those responsible allegedly escape accountability.
The Indian National Congress further accused the government of allowing repeated examination irregularities during the past decade and alleged that multiple recruitment and entrance examinations had faced paper leak controversies in recent years.
Arvind Kejriwal, national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, also criticised the handling of the examination process, alleging collusion and lack of accountability. He expressed support for affected students and called for stronger action against those involved in examination malpractice.
Meanwhile, leaders from Tamil Nadu-based parties renewed their opposition to the NEET system itself. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said the cancellation reinforced the party’s long-standing demand to abolish NEET and conduct medical admissions based on Class 12 academic performance.
Kamal Haasan, founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam, questioned the credibility of the examination process and expressed concern over the mental stress faced by students due to repeated controversies surrounding entrance examinations.
The incident has once again intensified the national debate around examination security, transparency and the functioning of the National Testing Agency, which conducts several major entrance examinations across the country.
Students and parents are now awaiting further clarity from authorities regarding the revised examination schedule and the next steps in the admission process.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
