Sachin Tendulkar reacted to the ongoing NEET paper leak protests, urging society to reward hard work, honesty and merit while safeguarding the aspirations of India’s youth.
Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (Photo: IANS)
Reacting to the ongoing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday urged society to foster a culture where hard work, honesty and merit are rewarded, saying India’s youth deserve a future built on fairness and opportunity.
In a social media post, the former India captain recalled a lesson imparted by his father, saying integrity should always take precedence over shortcuts.
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“My father was a professor. He was a mentor and guide to many young students. One lesson that he instilled early on was, ‘Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts.'”
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Tendulkar said society has a shared responsibility to shape a culture where merit prevails over shortcuts.
“As adults in society, we have the responsibility of shaping culture. A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy.”
Acknowledging the disappointment felt by students, he said it was understandable that many felt let down when their hard work had not been rewarded.
“Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work hasn’t been rewarded, it is understandable. Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don’t feel this way again.”
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 23, 2026
The cricket legend described India’s youth as the country’s driving force and stressed that parents, teachers, schools, friends and administrators all have an important role in encouraging and supporting the next generation.
“Young India is full of dreams and energy. They are the fuel to our success… We must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins.”
Tendulkar’s remarks come amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and follow similar appeals from several prominent figures in Indian sport.
Earlier in the day, Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra called for a stronger education system built on trust and merit, while former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan urged patience and faith in institutions, and Yuvraj Singh appealed for dialogue and a peaceful resolution.
The reactions also came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that fast-track courts would be set up to ensure swift punishment for those involved in paper leaks, stating that those responsible for compromising the future of India’s youth “will not be spared.”
Meanwhile, protests continued at Jantar Mantar, Tolstoy Marg and Janpath in New Delhi, with demonstrators demanding accountability over the alleged paper leak and broader reforms in the education system.
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