Jaipur: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Wednesday met the family of 22-year-old NEET aspirant Pradeep Meghwal, who died by suicide in Rajasthan’s Sikar after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination over an alleged paper leak. Pradeep, a resident of Jhunjhunu district, was preparing for the medical entrance examination in Sikar, one of Rajasthan’s major coaching hubs. He died by suicide on May 15.
Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations
After meeting the family, Gandhi alleged that the student’s death reflected the failure of the country’s examination system. In a post on X, he said, “Pradeep’s death is not a suicide — it is the result of a broken and corrupt system. Those who handed over the examination system to mafias and still continue in their posts today — the Modi-Pradhan duo is answerable to this family.”
Concern Over Student Pressure
Expressing concern over increasing pressure on students, Gandhi said, “Today I met the family of Pradeep Meghwal, a promising student who died by suicide after being devastated by the NEET paper leak. Their pain cannot be described in words. A mother and father have lost their son, and they were not at fault in any way.”
“Millions of children across the country are living under the pressure of studies, competition and uncertainty about their future. When a paper leak takes place, it is not just an examination that collapses — a child’s dream and an entire family are shattered,” he added.
The incident has sparked a wider debate on the pressures faced by students in competitive exams and the integrity of the examination system. The NTA’s cancellation of the exam due to an alleged paper leak has left thousands of aspirants in distress, with many questioning the fairness of the process. The Meghwal family’s tragedy highlights the severe mental health toll on students, prompting calls for systemic reforms and better support mechanisms.
