Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday expressed deep concern over the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination following repeated paper leaks, stating that such incidents have effectively demonetised the future of students. He highlighted the distress caused to lakhs of aspirants and their families across the country.
Call for Credibility and Punishment
Reacting to the controversy, the Chief Minister emphasised that the credibility of national examinations must be protected at all costs. He asserted that any individuals or networks involved in paper leaks or corruption must face the strictest punishment, irrespective of their influence or position. “The integrity of the examination system cannot be compromised,” he said.
Impact on Students
In a post on X, Revanth Reddy noted that nearly 22.7 lakh students appeared for the examination across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad on May 3. These students now face renewed anxiety due to the paper leaks and serious irregularities in the examination process. He pointed out that students prepare for competitive examinations with immense sacrifice, emotional pressure, and financial burden. “Such exams should remain instruments of opportunity and merit, not sources of uncertainty and stress,” he added.
Demand for Investigation
The Telangana government stands firmly with the students and parents affected by this crisis, the Chief Minister said. He urged the Centre and the National Testing Agency to conduct a transparent, time-bound, and credible investigation. “Innocent students must not be forced to suffer repeatedly because of systemic failures,” he stressed.
Political Allegations
Revanth Reddy also remarked that the similarities between the BJP and BRS in failures, betrayal, and organised corruption are glaring. He assured students from Telangana that the state government would continue to stand by them and demanded stronger safeguards, technological protections, and institutional accountability to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Author's Note
This article is based on statements made by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and published by the Times of India. The author, Koride Mahesh, is a senior assistant editor with over two decades of experience covering urban infrastructure, politics, and governance in Telangana.
