‘Daylight robbery of talented students’ rights’, says Kamal Nath on NEET UG 2026 cancellation
Bhopal, May 12 (IANS) Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday launched a fierce attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government, describing the cancellation of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET UG) 2026 examination as a monumental failure.
Drawing a sharp parallel to regional controversies, Kamal Nath said that the current situation at the national level mirrors the infamous “Vyapam scam” seen in Madhya Pradesh.
He alleged that the same model of recruiting unqualified individuals is now being projected across the country, which he characterised as “daylight robbery of the rights of talented students”.
In a detailed statement on his official X account, Nath said that this is not an isolated incident, noting that similar allegations of leaks and irregularities have surfaced repeatedly in 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2024.
He added that the persistent nature of these breaches suggests the operation of an organised racket that remains untouched despite repeated government claims of high security.
The National Testing Agency has officially cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination following widespread allegations of a paper leak, delivering a massive blow to nearly 2.3 million medical aspirants.
The decision comes after the nationwide test held on May 3 was marred by reports from investigative agencies and mounting concerns regarding the integrity of the process.
According to the veteran Congress leader, the frequent collapse of the entrance exam system is a conspiracy that threatens to push the entire medical infrastructure of India into a deep pit.
The exam cancellation has left millions of students in a state of uncertainty as they await the announcement of new examination dates.
While the Union government said that the re-test is necessary to ensure fairness, the Opposition said that the repeated failure to secure such a high stakes exam points to a fundamental breakdown in modern governance.
In response to the growing crisis, the Central government has initiated an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the breach and restore the credibility of the national entrance examination system.
As the CBI begins its investigation, the focus remains on identifying the source of the leak and reforming the National Testing Agency to prevent future disruptions that jeopardise the careers of the country’s youth.
–IANS
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