Shashi Tharoor Criticizes Government Over NEET-UG Exam Irregularities

Tharoor's Strong Critique of National Exam Processes

On June 2, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor launched a scathing attack on the government regarding alleged irregularities in national examinations, particularly focusing on the NEET-UG exam paper leak controversy. He described the repeated failures as a betrayal of an entire generation. Speaking to a news outlet, Tharoor emphasized that if a process is in place where the integrity of exams cannot be trusted, it undermines the efforts of those who have diligently prepared, only to discover that corruption and dishonesty have tainted the entire process, leading to cancellations and the need for retakes.

Concerns Over Exam Integrity

Tharoor raised concerns about the credibility of the Indian examination system compared to international standards, noting that many competitive exams worldwide, such as the SAT and Cambridge assessments, are conducted fairly. He questioned why only exams administered by the government are consistently plagued by irregularities. He urged the government to ensure the fairness and integrity of national examinations.

Accountability for Repeated Failures

Holding the central government accountable for these ongoing crises, Tharoor stated that it is indeed a failure on the part of the government, which must take responsibility and act to resolve the issues. He warned that failing to do so would amount to a betrayal of an entire generation. He pointed out that the government, ministries, and national agricultural administration are all responsible for the situation, where processes adopted in other countries are marred by leaks and incompetence in India. Tharoor asserted that the overall responsibility lies with Prime Minister Modi's administration, insisting that such incidents should never happen again.

NEET-UG Exam Rescheduled Amid Protests

These remarks come as the NEET-UG 2026 exam has been rescheduled to June 21 due to allegations of paper leaks and administrative failures. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is continuing its investigation, having made several arrests, while student protests are escalating across the country.