May 16, 2026
Opposition demands education minister’s resignation over leaked pre-medical entrance test
The National Students’ Union of India — a youth wing of the Indian National Congress (INC), the country’s largest opposition party — held a protest outside the National Testing Agency (NTA) in New Delhi on Saturday following the controversial cancellation of the all-India pre-medical entrance test.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 examination was cancelled on May 12 after allegations that the question paper was leaked. The entrance test is under the NTA’s purview.
The exam is conducted by pen and paper for over 2.2 million candidates in a single shift, across thousands of centers in India. That means printing thousands of question papers, transporting them and securing them at locations ahead of the exam.
As the massive physical exercise makes the question paper vulnerable, NEET-UG papers have been leaked several times before. Students who already sat for the exam on May 3 will now take the exam again in June.
The re-exam not only increases anxiety and uncertainty for students preparing for the highly competitive entrance test, but also impacts those from disadvantaged social groups and low-income households, who might struggle to pay for their journeys to reach their designated exam centers.
NSUI members blame education minister
Protestors carried locks and chains symbolising the shutdown of the NTA, news agency ANI reported. They also held placards and raised slogans against the NTA and Union Education Minister Fharmendra Pradhan.
“We demand a ban on NTA and strict action against the culprits who have ruined students’ mental health and driven them to depression and suicide,” one protester at the site said. Others demanded Pradhan’s resignation.
Meanwhile, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday said it had identified the culprit behind the paper leak — a chemistry lecturer associated with the examination process on behalf of the NTA.
The lecturer is said to have dictated questions and their correct answers to his coaching students before the exam.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s spokesperson said “the exam mafia involved in playing with the future of children would not be spared at any cost,” and termed the leak as an “unfortunate matter.”
“The internal arrangements were strong, but the disruption was created by outside elements,” he had told reporters.
Authorities have assured that next year’s NEET-UG exam will be conducted online to prevent further leaks.