Opposition Demands Minister's Resignation After NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak

Opposition leaders and student groups are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance exam on May 12. The exam, which affected approximately 22 lakh students, was cancelled after widespread allegations of paper leaks. The crisis intensified as several aspirants, including 21-year-old Ritik Mishra, died by suicide, leading Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Chaturvedi to characterize the deaths as systemic failures and "murders committed by the system."

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested nine individuals, including alleged kingpin PV Kulkarni, a Chemistry lecturer who reportedly leaked papers and ran illegal coaching sessions in Pune. The CBI also detained Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a National Testing Agency (NTA) panel expert accused of accepting bribes. In response to the scandal, the NTA appointed new senior officials and briefed a Parliamentary committee on proposed reforms.

Protests erupted nationwide, with the RJD student wing burning effigies in Patna and Congress workers clashing with police in Jaipur. In response, Pradhan announced a re-examination for June 21 and a transition to computer-based testing starting in 2027. To secure the re-test, Pradhan engaged Meta, Google, and Telegram to dismantle coordinated misinformation networks spreading fake leak claims. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called for the total scrapping of the NEET system.