New Delhi, May 12: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday strongly condemned the Central government following the cancellation of the NEET examination amid allegations of a paper leak. He called for a “fundamental restructuring” of the National Testing Agency (NTA), asserting that the agency must be kept away from the influence of what he termed “Modi Government’s corrupt henchmen” to safeguard the credibility of India’s competitive exam system.
In a post on X, Ramesh questioned the government’s inaction despite prior acknowledgments of NTA’s shortcomings. “On June 16, 2024, the Education Minister had admitted that the NTA ‘needs a lot of improvement.’ Two years later, one must ask what follow-up action has been taken. It is increasingly clear that what is needed is not just improvement, but a fundamental restructuring of the NTA and its ecosystem to keep it out of the hands of the Modi Government’s corrupt henchmen,” he said.
The Congress leader also criticized the introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), claiming it has “thrown academic calendars of all educational institutions into utter chaos.” He highlighted a pattern of repeated failures by the NTA, citing a parliamentary report: “The recent NEET-UG paper leak and the subsequent cancellation of the exam is only the latest in a series of incidents that raise serious questions about the purpose and efficacy of the NTA. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, in its 371st report, noted that in 2024 alone, five of the 14 national examinations conducted by the NTA faced paper leaks or other irregularities.”
Ramesh further pointed out delays in results that have prompted a “shift of students towards private universities,” which offer more predictable admission cycles. “In JEE Mains 2025, 12 questions had to be withdrawn due to errors in the answer key. The CUET imposed by the Modi Government has routinely faced delays in both examination conduct and result announcements, creating widespread disruption in academic schedules and pushing students toward private institutions,” he added.
The Congress leader also criticized the NTA for failing to provide annual reports to Parliament, relying only on audited statements. “The Modi Government has dismantled decades-old admission practices and examinations, replacing them with a centralized body riddled with corruption and beyond parliamentary accountability,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, amid allegations of a paper leak and irregularities, the Centre cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam conducted on May 3. The government announced that the exam would be re-conducted on dates to be notified and referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough probe. The NTA clarified that registrations, candidature details, and exam centers from the May 2026 cycle would remain valid for the retest, with no additional fees required.
The cancellation sparked political controversy, with Congress leader Sachin Pilot demanding the resignation of the Education Minister, emphasizing that accountability must be fixed for repeated lapses in national-level exams. Ramesh also criticized the Centre’s decision to rely on a CBI inquiry instead of taking direct action. “The Central Government has, once again, sought to shield itself under the pretext of a CBI investigation. Two years ago, a similar inquiry was instituted—where is its report? Who was penalized? No one knows,” he said.
