“Shaken trust of millions of youth”: Mallikarjun Kharge attacks centre over NEET paper leak

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticised the Centre over the ongoing NEET paper leak controversy, saying the repeated incidents have “shaken the trust of millions of youth” and exposed serious systemic failures in India’s examination framework.

Kharge’s remarks come amid renewed political debate over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which has been under scrutiny following multiple claims of question paper leaks and procedural lapses. The issue has triggered nationwide concern among students and opposition parties.

Calling the situation a reflection of deeper governance challenges, Kharge said the credibility of the country’s competitive examination system is under threat. He alleged that repeated paper leak controversies have created confusion, anxiety, and distrust among lakhs of aspirants preparing for high-stakes exams.

According to reports, the controversy has also led to protests and political demands for accountability, with opposition leaders questioning the handling of examination security and recruitment processes.

The allegations around NEET have been consistently denied or investigated by authorities, including the National Testing Agency, which has maintained that exam integrity measures are in place while investigations continue into reported irregularities.

The controversy surrounding NEET has become a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties arguing that repeated exam disruptions are harming India’s education system and the future of millions of students.

Kharge also highlighted broader concerns about unemployment, exam transparency, and administrative accountability, stating that the government must take urgent corrective measures to restore public confidence.

Meanwhile, student groups and political organisations continue to demand stronger safeguards against paper leaks, faster investigations, and systemic reforms to prevent such incidents in future competitive examinations.