Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday, 14 May 2026 said that paper leaks have “demonetised” students’ future, delivering his first public response to the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination following a paper leak that has plunged 22.79 lakh students into uncertainty. The exam, held on 3 May 2026 across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, was scrapped after serious irregularities surfaced in the examination process.

Revanth Reddy’s Reaction

Reacting through a social media post, Revanth Reddy called for the strictest punishment for those behind the paper leak, regardless of their influence or position. “The credibility of national examinations must be protected at all costs. Any individuals or networks involved in paper leaks or corruption must face the strictest punishment, irrespective of their influence or position,” he stated.

The Chief Minister drew a pointed political comparison, asserting that the failures, betrayal, and organised corruption under governments led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) are “glaringly similar.”

Scale of the Crisis

The cancellation has triggered widespread distress among students and parents across the country. Nearly 22.79 lakh students who appeared for the examination now face renewed anxiety, having invested months — and in many cases years — of preparation, emotional energy, and financial resources into clearing one of India’s most competitive medical entrance tests. Revanth Reddy acknowledged that students prepare for NEET under “immense sacrifice, emotional pressure and financial burden,” and argued that competitive examinations must serve as instruments of merit and opportunity, not sources of anxiety and uncertainty.

Telangana Government’s Demands

Revanth Reddy said the Government of Telangana stands firmly with affected students and parents. He urged the Union Government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct a “transparent, time-bound and credible investigation” while ensuring innocent students are not made to suffer repeatedly for systemic failures. He also demanded stronger safeguards, technological protections, and institutional accountability to prevent recurrence.

Youth Congress Protests

On Wednesday, the Telangana Youth Congress staged a protest demonstration against the NEET paper leak, with demonstrators burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, demanding their resignations on moral grounds. Youth Congress state President Jakkidi Shivacharan Reddy, along with party leaders and workers, participated in the protest.

What Happens Next

With the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation now confirmed, the focus shifts to whether the NTA and the Centre will announce a fresh examination date and a credible reform roadmap. This is not the first time NEET has been embroiled in controversy — the 2024 edition was similarly rocked by paper leak allegations, raising deeper questions about the structural integrity of centralised national testing in India. Students and parent groups are expected to continue pressing for accountability and a swift rescheduling of the examination.