Nagpur: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday launched a scathing attack on those responsible for the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, asserting that they deserved to have their own lives ruined for destroying the futures of lakhs of students. Bawankule criticized Opposition parties for using the paper leak for political traction while ignoring the real suffering of students.
Government action praised
Bawankule praised Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and both the central and state governments for acting swiftly to uncover the wrongdoing. As various organizations held protests over the NEET paper leak in many cities, the Opposition demanded Pradhan's resignation for the fiasco. Bawankule stated, "Demanding resignations is the job of the Opposition. Such paper leaks happened during Congress rule also. Nobody should do politics over an issue which concerns lakhs of students and their academic future."
He stressed that the "speedy action" by the government to nab the culprits needs to be appreciated. "I express gratitude to those who investigated the matter thoroughly. Dharmendra Pradhan exposed it completely," Bawankule said.
Background of the leak
The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled NEET-UG 2026, held on May 3, after parts of the question paper were allegedly leaked. The controversy escalated after a so-called guess paper, allegedly containing several actual questions, began circulating among candidates in Rajasthan and other states ahead of the exam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation.
Retest and future changes
The retest has been scheduled for June 21. Candidates will not have to pay any additional fee, and fees paid for the May 3 test will be refunded. All 22 lakh candidates who appeared for the original exam will have to reappear. The government has also announced a shift to a computer-based testing format for NEET from 2027.
Pradhan, addressing his first press conference since the cancellation, said the government adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards examination malpractice and would not allow the education mafia to compromise opportunities for genuine students. "We admit there was a breach somewhere in the chain of command despite implementing the Radhakrishnan committee recommendations. We take responsibility to fix this," he said.
Political reactions
Bawankule's remarks come amid a political storm over the leak, with the Opposition demanding accountability. However, he urged all parties to prioritize the interests of students over political gains.
