The Congress on Friday sharpened its criticism of the Centre over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination, accusing the Narendra Modi government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) of attempting to cover up evidence of a paper leak and shielding what it called a “paper leak mafia.”
File Photo: IANS
The Congress on Friday sharpened its criticism of the Centre over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination, accusing the Narendra Modi government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) of attempting to cover up evidence of a paper leak and shielding what it called a “paper leak mafia.”
Congress General Secretary, in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, alleged that the government was repeating the failures seen during the NEET-UG 2024 controversy and had not ensured accountability in the examination process.
In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh claimed that the NTA Director General had informed a Parliamentary Committee that the NEET-UG 2026 question paper had not been leaked. Describing the reported statement as “scandalous and shockingly dishonest,” he argued that there was clear evidence of a “guess paper” being circulated before the examination, containing several questions that allegedly matched those in the actual test.
“If that is not a leak, what is? Why is the Modi Government trying to deny it now?” Ramesh asked.
He further alleged that since the NTA was established in 2018, the government and its “ecosystem” had worked in tandem with organised paper leak networks to hide what he described as widespread irregularities and fraud in examinations conducted by the agency.
Drawing comparisons with the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, which had triggered protests and legal scrutiny over allegations of paper leaks, inflated scores and irregularities at examination centres, Ramesh said regions previously identified as “hotspots,” including Rajasthan’s Sikar district, had once again surfaced in connection with alleged irregularities in 2026.
“If it had faced up to the truth and taken action then, the NEET 2026 tragedy may have been avoided,” he said.
The Congress also questioned the role of the Central Bureau of Investigation in probe-related examination controversies. Referring to the UGC-NET 2024 examination, which was cancelled by the NTA amid concerns over the integrity of the test process, Ramesh said the CBI’s closure report stating that no irregularities were found had raised fresh concerns.
He added that when asked by a Delhi court to submit a written explanation for its closure report, the agency had sought additional time, saying its actions “inspire no confidence” regarding ongoing investigations into NEET-related matters.
Escalating the political attack, Ramesh described the NTA as the “National Trauma Agency” for lakhs of students and accused institutions under the Education Ministry, including Central Board of Secondary Education, National Council of Educational Research and Training and Central Universities, of institutional decline.
“The Education Minister is presiding over a system in which professional excellence is at a discount and where ideological affinity commands a premium,” he alleged.
Ramesh further said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Education Minister should be held accountable for what he termed a “colossal tragedy and its ongoing cover-up.”
The NEET examination, conducted annually for admissions to undergraduate medical courses across India, has remained under intense scrutiny over the past two years following repeated allegations of paper leaks, malpractice and examination-related irregularities.
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