NEET-UG 2026 Question Paper Leak Sparks Outrage and Calls for Action
The recent leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper has ignited significant outrage among students and political leaders. NCP-SP legislator Rohit Pawar condemned the government's inaction and supported Rahul Gandhi's claim that the incident represents a grave injustice. With millions of students vying for limited seats, the leak has caused widespread despair. The CBI has initiated arrests, including one suspect from Latur, while BJP leaders defend the government's response and outline future measures to prevent such incidents. This situation raises critical questions about the integrity of competitive exams in India.
| May 16, 2026, 18:09 IST
Outcry Over NEET-UG 2026 Question Paper Leak
On Saturday, Rohit Pawar, an NCP-SP legislator, strongly condemned the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper, accusing the central government of inaction. He supported Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's assertion that this incident is not a case of suicide but rather murder. Speaking to a news outlet, Pawar expressed concern over the despair among students following the leak. He described the situation as extremely unfortunate, echoing Gandhi's sentiments that the government should have taken decisive action. With approximately 24 lakh students competing for just 1 lakh seats, the leak just a day before the exam has left many feeling hopeless.
Mental Strain on Students
Pawar further stated that this incident has placed immense mental pressure on students, particularly those who have invested heavily in coaching. He criticized the government's failure to act and called for stringent measures. The CBI has arrested one suspect from Latur in connection with the NEET question paper leak, with several arrests made across Maharashtra, including Latur and Nashik. Meanwhile, BJP leader Prakash Reddy criticized the opposition for questioning the central government's decision to cancel the NEET UG 2026 exam following the leak. He highlighted that the Congress party did not take action during its tenure regarding similar issues, while the ruling BJP has initiated a CBI investigation.
Government's Response and Future Measures
Reddy defended the government's actions, noting that seven suspects, including the main accused, have been apprehended. He reiterated the government's plan to conduct the NEET-UG exam in CBT mode starting in 2027, dismissing Rahul Gandhi's political allegations as unfounded. He pointed out that in independent India, question papers for competitive exams have been leaked multiple times, yet the previous Congress government took no action. However, the current government has launched a CBI investigation, identifying the main suspect from Pune, who is currently incarcerated, while six others have already been arrested. The government has announced that to prevent future leaks, the exam will be conducted online next year.