Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) launched a scathing attack on the Modi government over the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s so-called ‘amrit kaal’ has turned into a ‘vish kaal’ (poison-filled era) for the country.

Mr. Gandhi said the hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been “crushed by this corrupt BJP regime”.

In a post in Hindi on X, Mr. Gandhi said, “The NEET 2026 examination has been cancelled. The hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been crushed by this corrupt BJP regime. Some fathers took loans, some mothers sold their jewellery, lakhs of children stayed up all night studying, and in return, they got paper leaks, government negligence, and organised corruption in education.” “This is not just a failure—it’s a crime against the future of the youth,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.-- PTI

For 18-year-old Kevin, the past week had felt like the beginning of a long-awaited break. Having completed his Intermediate examinations in April and attempted all major competitive entrance tests, including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG) 2026 on May 3, he was spending his summer vacation at home in Hyderabad, unwinding after months of intense preparation.

On Tuesday afternoon, May 12, while playing games on his mobile phone, Kevin received a call from a friend. What he initially assumed would be a casual conversation about evening plans instead turned into shocking news. His friend informed him that the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which they had written just a week earlier, had been cancelled.

“My exam went really well. I had prepared seriously and thought I would clear the cut-off comfortably. I was finally enjoying my summer break before starting a new phase of life in college. Now I am completely blank about what to do. We do not know when the exam will happen again or how to mentally prepare for another attempt,” Kevin said. -- The Hindu Bureau

Decrying the decision of the National Testing Agency to hold re-examination of NEET, educationalists in Karnataka said those behind the leak and those enabling the leak should be held accountable and punished.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee Ajay Rai on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the cancellation of NEET (UG) 2026 exam, accusing him of shattering the dreams of youth.

The government which cannot even conduct a single exam safely has no right to remain in power, he said.

In a post on X in Hindi, Mr. Rai, said, “You have shattered the dreams of the youth, and now, Modi ji is packing his bags and preparing to go. The cancellation of NEET UG 2026 serves as the siren signalling the departure of this government. A government that cannot even conduct a single examination safely, has no right to remain in power. The fear of paper leaks has completely exposed you.” “The youth of the nation is watching how those sitting in Delhi are toying with their future. Now, the scores will be settled (’ab hisaab hogaa’),” Mr. Rai said on X. -- PTI

According to student organisation NSUI, hundreds of students participated in the protest against repeated paper leak allegations and the failure of the NTA to conduct fair and transparent examinations, following which, several students have been detained. 

NSUI National president Vinod Jakhar said, “If the examination system was fair, the Government would not have been forced to cancel the exam and order a CBI probe. This clearly exposes the failure of the Education Ministry and NTA.”

Students are further demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and called for a complete ban on NTA, stating that the agency has repeatedly failed to conduct credible examinations. -- The Hindu Bureau

In a X post, FAIMA Doctors Association on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), said “Our hearts go out to the lakhs of students who put their lives on hold for NEET-UG 2026, only to be met with systemic negligence.”

FAIMA demanded immediate accountability for this paper leak. “We will not stay silent while ‘guess papers’ and mafias decide who becomes a doctor.”

The NTA said the government has decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations linked to the examination.

“NTA will extend full cooperation to the Bureau and will provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires,” it added.

“This decision has been taken in the interest of students and in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests,” NTA said.

The agency acknowledged that the re-conduct of the examination would cause “real and significant inconvenience” to candidates and their families, but said the decision was necessary to prevent “greater and more lasting damage” to trust in the examination system.

According to the NTA, the registration data, candidature and examination centres opted for in the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward for the re-conducted examination. -- PTI

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said students affected by the cancellation of the NEET exam will have to resort to mass protests as the government only understands the language of agitation.

The National Testing Agency on May 12, 2026 cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 exam conducted on May 3 amid allegations of paper leak, with the government asking the CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the “irregularities”.

Mr. Kejriwal, in a press conference, alleged “political patronage” in paper leaks, saying the NEET question paper was leaked four times in the past nine years and none of the accused were punished.

“I sympathise with all the students affected by the cancellation of the NEET paper. I know how hard students work for such exams. Coaching is expensive and many families even pawn their jewellery to arrange money,” he said.

Calling paper leaks the “biggest betrayal” with the students, the former Delhi chief minister said, “Those who can not prevent paper leak, how would they run the government. It’s a case of complete collusion.” He said that paper leaks did not happen out of nowhere, as he alleged complicity of higher ups, and accused the government of toying with the future of lakhs of students.

“I want to tell the students that they will have to come out on the streets. This government understands only the language of mass agitation … Kejriwal is with you,” the AAP supremo said. -- PTI

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET) 2026, which was held on May 3, 2026 now stands cancelled, and the paper will be re-conducted, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced on Tuesday (May 12, 2026). This comes as a Rajasthan Special Operations Group is investigating allegations of the examination paper being leaked.

Following allegations that the question paper for the NEET-UG 2026 entrance examination held on May 3 was leaked, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the test, said it was aware of reports regarding the action initiated by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) in connection with alleged irregularities.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) said the cancellation of the NEET (UG) examination indicated large-scale irregularities in the test and accused the BJP government in the state of trying to suppress the matter for two weeks.

Mr. Gehlot alleged that the government had “played with the future of youth” by attempting to hide information related to the alleged paper leak.

He said the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) decision to cancel the examination and hand over the probe to the CBI was a bold step taken in the interest of students.

“BJP government in Rajasthan had earlier tried to conceal the OMR sheet scam in the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board to avoid embarrassment to the government. Weak legal representation in the case resulted in the accused securing bail,” he claimed.

“Information related to the NEET (UG) paper leak was also suppressed and no FIR was registered initially,” he said.

Mr. Gehlot said the truth had now come out and the real face of the BJP government had been exposed. -- PTI

A massive protest organised by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) broke out near the Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), against the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG this year.

The exam was held on May 3, following which allegations of paper leak surfaced, triggering investigations by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and central agencies.

Earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately.

In a statement, the NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system. -- PTI