Mehboob Inamdar
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The National Testing Agency (NTA)’s decision to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has triggered negative reactions among the majority of medical aspirants in the city on Tuesday.
Only some students welcomed the move as long-overdue relief, while others expressed concern over the uncertainty it brings to medical admissions.
The NTA cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following a question paper leak and is expected to announce a fresh date for the national medical entrance test shortly. As the news broke, this newspaper reached out to aspirants and student representatives across the city to gauge their reactions to the sudden and shocking development.
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17 K affected in city
Nearly 17,000 candidates took the NEET at 30 centres of the city on May 3. This means cancellation will affect 17,000 students who will have to take the examination afresh.
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Aspirants upset
An aspirant, Anil Kamble, is upset over the decision. He said that he would have maintained the same concentration and undertaken preparation for the same test. “If one loses concentration, it will impact my career. I feel that this is like forcing for the examination,” he added.
Another student, Zainab Farooqui, a student who took the NEET at one of the city’s centres, was happy as the she was planning to re-appear after checking answer keys. She said that though she was happy, she would have to prepare again for the fresh examination.
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ABVP demands impartial probe into Paper Leak
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has expressed serious concern over the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination following paper leak allegations and questions over the credibility of the NTA.
The Parishad called it deeply unfortunate, especially since similar irregularities had occurred in 2024 as well. ABVP demanded that central agencies conduct a fair and time-bound investigation and take strict action against the exam mafia and all those involved. They also urged the NTA to maintain full transparency. ABVP Deogiri Pradesh Mantri D Varunraj Nannaware stated that millions of students prepare for NEET after years of hard work, and any irregularity seriously impacts their future. He urged students not to panic or believe rumours, assuring that ABVP will continue to fight for a transparent and fair examination system.
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Justice & Transparency should be maintained in NEET
A student representative and youth icon Nikhil Kakde has strongly raised his voice over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, calling it a serious issue affecting the future and trust of lakhs of students across India. Reacting to the matter, Nikhil Kakde stated that competitive examinations like NEET are directly connected to the dreams, careers, and hard work of students and any irregularity in such examinations creates fear and uncertainty among aspirants. “Millions of students prepare for NEET with dedication and sacrifice. Any unfair practice in the examination system is unacceptable and must be investigated transparently,” said Nikhil Kakde.