Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has publicly renewed his state's long-standing demand for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). His statement comes in the wake of the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelling the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was held on May 3, due to widespread allegations of a paper leak and other irregularities.
The NTA's decision to cancel the exam, approved by the Union Government, has deeply affected millions of medical aspirants and their families nationwide. CM Vijay articulated that this latest controversy serves as "conclusive proof" of significant "structural flaws" within the national-level examination system, arguing that such repeated compromises shatter students' hopes.
Instead of the centralized NEET, the Chief Minister urged the Union government to permit states to fill all medical, dental, and AYUSH seats under their respective quotas based on Class 12 marks. This approach, he contended, would allow for a more equitable admission process tailored to state-specific educational contexts.
A History of Opposition and Leaks
Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET since its inception, with successive state governments arguing that the examination inherently disadvantages rural students, those from government schools, Tamil medium students, and economically weaker families. The state maintains that its own Class 12 examination system provides a more inclusive and fair pathway to medical education for its diverse student population.
CM Vijay highlighted that the 2026 incident is not an isolated one. He referenced the 2024 NEET controversy, where a paper leak and widespread flaws were reported across six states, leading to a CBI investigation. Despite recommendations from a High-Level Committee of Experts formed by the Supreme Court, another leak has occurred within two years, reinforcing the state's conviction that the system is fundamentally flawed and beyond effective reform.
CBI Investigation Underway
In response to the allegations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially taken over the probe into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The CBI has already arrested five individuals identified as Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal, Dinesh Biwal, Yash Yadav, and Shubham Khairnar, and conducted searches at multiple locations across the country, seizing mobile phones, laptops, and other digital devices for forensic analysis.
Initial investigations by the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group (SOG), prior to the CBI takeover, traced the origin of a "guess paper" containing questions similar to the exam to a student in Sikar district. This material was allegedly circulated among coaching students through local networks, eventually reaching candidates in Jaipur and surrounding areas before the examination. Investigators suspect the leak may have originated in Nashik and was routed through Gurugram before reaching Rajasthan.
Political Reactions Mount
The widespread controversy has triggered strong political reactions. Workers from the NSUI and Indian Youth Congress have staged protests, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and calling for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) inquiry into the matter. Members of the ABVP and SFI have also organized demonstrations across the country.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad have alleged links between some of the accused individuals and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), questioning whether there were attempts to suppress the case. In response, BJP state vice-president Mukesh Dadhich denied the allegations, stating that any accused individuals found to have affiliations were acting in a personal capacity.