NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the central government on Tuesday following the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) decision to cancel the NEET-UG entrance test. He claimed that the “hard work of students has been crushed by the corrupt BJP regime.”
In a post on X, Gandhi remarked that what was promised as “Amrit Kaal,” a period of prosperity, has devolved into “Vish Kaal,” or a time of great distress. He stated, “The NEET 2026 exam has been cancelled. The hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of over 22 lakh students have been crushed by this corrupt BJP regime. Some fathers took out loans, some mothers sold their jewellery, and lakhs of children stayed up all night studying.”
He emphasized that in return for their efforts, students faced paper leaks, government negligence, and systemic corruption in education. Additionally, he classified the incident as a “crime against the future of the youth.”
“This isn’t just a failure — it’s a crime against the future of the youth. Every time, the paper mafia gets away scot-free, while honest students bear the punishment. Now, lakhs of students will once again endure the same mental stress, financial burden, and uncertainty,” he said. He further questioned the integrity of the educational system, stating, “If one’s destiny is determined not by hard work, but by money and connections, then what’s the point of education? The Prime Minister’s so-called Amrit Kaal has turned into a Vish Kaal for the nation.”
The NTA’s cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, initially held on May 3, came after allegations of a widespread “guess paper” leak, which created a nationwide controversy. The government has ordered a comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged irregularities related to the examination that involved nearly 22.79 lakh students in India and abroad.
This development follows the discovery of evidence suggesting that a question set described as a “guess paper” circulated among candidates weeks before the exam, containing numerous questions that closely matched those in the actual NEET paper.
The NTA announced on X, “On the basis of inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with central agencies and the investigative findings shared by law enforcement agencies, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026, and to conduct the examination again on dates that will be notified separately.”
The agency added that the examination process could not be permitted to continue due to the inputs received from law enforcement agencies. Information regarding the new examination dates and reissued admit card schedule will be communicated through the agency’s official channels in the coming days.
