Protests Erupt in Delhi Over NEET-UG 2026 Cancellation

New Delhi (IANS): Following the NTA’s decision to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination, massive protests erupted across the national capital on Tuesday. Student organizations, led by the NSUI and ABVP, have launched a fierce campaign against the examination body and the Union Ministry of Education, calling the paper leak a “grave injustice” to millions of aspiring doctors.

NSUI Demands Resignation of Education Minister

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) claimed that the government only scrapped the exam due to mounting public pressure. NSUI President Vinod Jakhar took a hardline stance, questioning why the NTA and the Ministry remained silent on the specifics of the leak.

• Demands for Resignation: The NSUI is explicitly demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, asserting that the ministry has failed to protect the sanctity of national exams.
• Structural Reform: The organization called for the NTA to be disbanded, labelling it “incapable” of conducting high-stakes examinations.
• The “Doctor Mafia” Concern: Jakhar raised a significant societal concern, stating, “If paper thieves become doctors, what will happen to the healthcare system of this country?”

ABVP Calls for Time-Bound Investigation

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also expressed “profound anxiety” over the recurring procedural lapses. While focusing on the student’s perspective, the ABVP’s National General Secretary, Virendra Solanki, emphasized that the current situation is an assault on the tireless toil of students.

• Unequivocal Stance: The ABVP is demanding a time-bound, impartial investigation to identify the “exam mafia” responsible for the leak.
• Future Safeguards: The organization is pushing for a complete overhaul of technical security systems and stricter confidentiality protocols for question papers to prevent a repeat of the 2024 and 2026 controversies.

The Human Cost: Emotional and Financial Distress

Aspirants protesting in Delhi highlighted the immense burden on their families. Many pointed out that parents spend lakhs on coaching, only to see their hard work rendered meaningless by systemic corruption.

“Our parents stay away from us for months and work hard to pay for our coaching. How can they afford to pay again and again for re-tests caused by someone else’s crime?” asked one frustrated student during a rally.

The NTA has maintained that the cancellation was necessary to protect the “trust” of the system, but for many students, that trust has already been broken.