Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticized the Indian government over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the National Eligibility Test (NET) examinations. Gandhi accused the government of negligence and corruption, claiming that the education system has become a marketplace for exam papers.
In May 2026, the NEET-UG 2026 examination was canceled following reports of a paper leak. Gandhi alleged that 120 questions from the exam were identical to those in a "guess paper," raising concerns about the integrity of the examination process. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET, stated that the exam was held under strict security protocols, including GPS-tracked transportation of question papers and AI-assisted CCTV surveillance at examination centers. The NTA acknowledged reports of alleged malpractice and is cooperating with investigating agencies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Gandhi's allegations as baseless and urged him to avoid making sensational statements without evidence. The party emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the examination process.
The controversy has sparked a broader debate about the integrity of India's examination system and the need for reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.