Professor Salim Engineer, Chairman of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind's (JIH) Markazi Taleemi Board (MTB), on Tuesday, 12 May strongly condemned the irregularities in the now-cancelled NEET UG 2026 examination, holding the government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) directly responsible for jeopardising the futures of lakhs of medical aspirants across India.

What the MTB Chairman Said

In a statement issued to reporters, Professor Salim Engineer said, "We strongly condemn the irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2026 examination that have resulted in its cancellation. The NEET exam is one of the country's most competitive entrance tests, taken by more than two million students annually."

He described the emergence of a so-called 'guess paper' — containing a significant number of questions allegedly matching the actual examination — as "a grave compromise in the impartiality of the process conducted by the NTA." The reported sale and widespread circulation of such papers through informal networks and digital platforms, he said, point towards organised malpractice.

"Such paper leaks undermine public confidence in the examination system and create a serious trust deficit among students and parents regarding merit and equal opportunity," Professor Salim Engineer said.

Demands for Accountability and Resignation

Professor Salim Engineer called upon the authorities to ensure complete transparency in the inquiry process and to take strict action against any individuals or networks found guilty of malpractice. He went further, stating that those at the helm of the NTA and the Ministry of Education must resign by accepting moral accountability for these failures.

"Those directly responsible for this breach must be identified and dealt with in the strictest possible manner to serve as a strong deterrent," he said. He also demanded a "thorough, independent, and time-bound probe" to fix accountability at all levels.

Key Reform Recommendations

The MTB chairman urged the government to urgently implement the recommendations of the High-Level Committee of Experts constituted by the Ministry of Education under the chairmanship of former ISRO Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan. That panel had previously flagged concerns about breaches in entrance examinations and emphasised the need for a system that is "secure, tamper-proof, and transparent."

Notably, the NTA's decision to cancel the NEET UG 2026 examination and order a re-conduct, alongside the government's move to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was acknowledged by Professor Salim Engineer as "a clear acknowledgment of the seriousness of the lapses involved." However, he stressed that this has caused "immense distress and uncertainty" to lakhs of students and their families.

Broader Context

The NEET UG controversy is not without precedent. The 2024 edition of the same examination was marred by allegations of paper leaks and grace marks irregularities, triggering nationwide protests, Supreme Court hearings, and a political firestorm. The recurrence of similar concerns in 2026 raises pointed questions about whether systemic corrective measures were adequately implemented in the intervening period.

With the CBI probe now underway and a re-examination on the horizon, the pressure on the NTA and the Ministry of Education to deliver a credible, transparent process has never been greater — and the scrutiny from civil society groups, including the MTB, is set to intensify.