Massive protest by NSUI after NEET exam cancellation

Anger spilled onto the streets of central Delhi on Tuesday as the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), affiliated with the Congress party, gathered outside the Shastri Bhawan to protest the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) over paper leak allegations.

Intense sloganeering demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and justice for the students took place in Central Delhi amid heavy police deployment and barricading. Several protesters, including students and NSUI members, were detained, according to the organisation. Heavy police forces have been deployed in key areas.

The protest came hours after the National Testing Agency announced the cancellation of the May 3 medical entrance examination, stating that NEET-UG 2026 would be conducted again on dates to be announced later. The agency said the decision, taken with the approval of the Government, aimed to maintain transparency and public trust in the examination system. A CBI probe into the alleged paper leak has also been ordered.

The controversy revived memories of the 2024 NEET row, when allegations of paper leaks and irregularities triggered nationwide outrage, although the examination was not cancelled at the time.

Addressing the media, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar termed the cancellation a “victory of student power” and alleged that the government acted under pressure from students and opposition groups. He also demanded Pradhan’s resignation and called for the NTA to be disbanded, alleging repeated lapses in national-level examinations.

NSUI further questioned who would be held accountable for the alleged leak network and the “mental, emotional and financial suffering” caused to students and their families following the cancellation. The organisation said protests demanding accountability and reforms in the examination system would continue.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) student unit, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, also expressed concern over the alleged irregularities and demanded an impartial, time-bound probe by central agencies.

In a statement, ABVP said any compromise with the sanctity of entrance examinations was “completely unacceptable” and warned that a paper leak would amount to a grave injustice to lakhs of students.

The organisation urged the Centre to take strict action against those involved, including alleged examination mafias, and called on the NTA to maintain transparency throughout the investigation.