Protests Erupt in India Over NEET-UG Paper Leak Scandal

Protests erupted across India on May 16 and 17, 2026, after the NEET-UG examination held on May 3 was canceled due to an alleged question paper leak. The Indian Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India staged demonstrations in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Protesters marched toward the minister's residence and the NTA headquarters, leading to the detention of several members, including IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib.

Simultaneously, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested seven individuals, including an alleged mastermind, Chemistry lecturer PV Kulkarni, who reportedly distributed leaked papers from his residence in Pune. While the government announced a re-test for June 21 and a shift to computer-based testing next year, political opponents claim the education system has collapsed, alleging that 89 papers have leaked over the last 12 years.

Opposition activity extended to Bengaluru, where the Karnataka Youth Congress organized a 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' march for May 21. HS Manjunath, President of the Congress Youth Unit, argued that the central government is avoiding accountability and demanded that re-exams not be conducted in states unaffected by the leak to protect students in Karnataka.