Education – Congress Questions NTA Stand on Alleged NEET-UG Exam Leak
Education – The Congress party on Friday intensified its criticism of the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination. The opposition party challenged statements reportedly made by senior NTA officials that the examination paper had not been leaked, arguing that students had access to a so-called “guess paper” containing multiple questions that later appeared in the actual test.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the reported remarks made before a Parliamentary panel as deeply troubling and accused the government of attempting to downplay serious concerns linked to the medical entrance examination. He claimed that material circulating among candidates ahead of the exam included several questions that matched those in the final paper, raising fresh doubts over the integrity of the process.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Examination Transparency
In a statement shared on social media, Ramesh alleged that irregularities in national-level entrance examinations had become a recurring issue in recent years. He said the NTA, established to conduct competitive examinations across the country, had failed to restore public confidence after repeated controversies involving exam security and administrative lapses.
According to the Congress leader, the existence of study material containing actual exam questions before the scheduled test date should have triggered a more transparent investigation. He questioned why authorities continued to deny the possibility of a leak despite widespread concerns raised by students and parents.
The Congress also linked the latest controversy to previous allegations surrounding NEET-UG 2024, claiming that authorities did not take sufficient corrective action after earlier complaints surfaced. Ramesh argued that recurring reports from regions previously associated with exam fraud, including Rajasthan’s Sikar district, suggested deeper structural problems in the examination system.
Questions Over CBI Investigation
The party additionally referred to developments related to the UGC-NET 2024 examination, which had earlier been cancelled amid concerns about irregularities. Ramesh claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation had submitted a closure report stating that no wrongdoing had been found in that case.
He further stated that a Delhi court had sought a written explanation from the agency regarding the closure report and that the investigating body had requested additional time to respond. According to the Congress leader, delays in the process had raised doubts about the effectiveness and independence of the investigation.
The remarks reflected growing political pressure on agencies involved in conducting and investigating national examinations, especially after repeated controversies affecting lakhs of students preparing for competitive entrance tests.
Parliamentary Panel Reviews NEET-UG Arrangements
The issue was also discussed during a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. Sources indicated that several Members of Parliament questioned NTA officials about the safeguards being introduced to strengthen examination security and prevent future leaks.
During the meeting, the NTA reportedly informed the committee that NEET-UG 2026 had been conducted on May 3 across 5,432 centres located in 565 cities, including 14 international locations. The examination was held in 13 languages, reflecting the scale and diversity of the nationwide test.
Officials also stated that more than 22.7 lakh candidates had registered for the examination, while over 22.05 lakh students ultimately appeared for the test. The exam remains one of the largest competitive entrance examinations in the country and serves as the gateway for undergraduate medical admissions.
Examination Cancellation Intensifies Debate
The controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026 escalated further after the NTA cancelled the examination on May 12 following allegations linked to paper leaks and procedural irregularities. The cancellation affected lakhs of aspirants and triggered widespread debate over examination reforms and accountability within the education system.
Opposition parties have continued to demand greater transparency, while students and parents await clarity on the future course of the examination process. The government and investigating agencies are expected to face continued scrutiny as inquiries into the allegations move forward.