Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central government after the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination over allegations of a question paper leak. Taking to X, Rahul Gandhi said that the dreams and hard work of over 22 lakh students had been “crushed” due to what he called “organized corruption in education.” He accused the government of repeatedly failing to prevent paper leaks and alleged that honest students were being forced to suffer because of systemic negligence.
“The NEET 2026 exam has been canceled. The hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been crushed by this corrupt BJP regime,” Rahul Gandhi wrote. He further stated that while students and parents invest years of effort, money, and emotional energy into preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance examination, “paper mafia” networks continue to operate without fear.
Rahul Gandhi also highlighted the financial and emotional burden on families, saying some parents had taken loans while others sold jewelry to support their children’s preparation. He described the cancellation as “not just a failure, but a crime against the future of our youth.”
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday officially cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was conducted on May 3 for admissions into undergraduate medical programmes across the country. The agency said that information gathered by law enforcement agencies indicated that “the present examination process could not be allowed to stand,” adding that a fresh examination would be conducted on dates to be announced soon.
According to reports emerging from Rajasthan, the state police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) has been probing allegations that the NEET-UG paper was leaked days before the examination. Investigators reportedly found that nearly 140 questions from a handwritten “guess paper” matched the actual exam paper, accounting for around 600 marks out of the total 720 marks.
The Government of India has now handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive probe into the alleged leak.
With more than 22 lakh students appearing for NEET-UG 2026, the cancellation has triggered nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the integrity of competitive examinations in India.