Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the NDA government over the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was scrapped following allegations of a paper leak. The cancellation has left nearly 23 lakh medical aspirants in limbo, with a re-examination date yet to be announced.

Tejashwi's Broadside on the Centre

In a post on social media platform X, Tejashwi Yadav squarely blamed the Union government for what he described as a governance failure of the highest order. "Due to the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, the exam has been cancelled. The future of 23 lakh students has once again been toyed with. The endless chain of paper leaks shows no signs of stopping," he said, questioning the government's administrative capability and intent.

The RJD leader alleged that repeated exam paper leaks — in Bihar and across the country — raise serious questions about whether authorities are unable, or unwilling, to conduct fair examinations. He criticised what he termed "showy investigations" and urged the Centre to ensure transparency and accountability instead of empty rhetoric. "Governance requires transparency and accountability, not empty rhetoric," he added.

What Triggered the Cancellation

The controversy erupted after allegations of irregularities surfaced in the NEET-UG 2026 exam conducted on 3 May 2026. Following these claims, authorities decided to cancel the entire examination. The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is one of India's most competitive entrance exams, serving as the sole gateway for admission into MBBS and other medical degree programmes. This year, approximately 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the test.

This is not the first time NEET has been embroiled in controversy. The 2024 edition was similarly rocked by paper leak allegations, leading to a nationwide political storm and Supreme Court scrutiny. The recurrence of such incidents has deepened public scepticism about the integrity of large-scale centralised examinations in India.

CBI Probe and Re-Examination Plans

The Union government has handed over the investigation into the alleged paper leak to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Officials have confirmed that existing registrations of candidates will remain valid for the re-examination, though specific dates are yet to be announced. Candidates will need to bear additional costs for travel, accommodation, and logistics — a burden that Tejashwi highlighted as falling disproportionately on students from economically weaker backgrounds.

Impact on Students and Families

The cancellation has come as a severe setback for lakhs of aspirants who had prepared for months, often at considerable financial and emotional cost to their families. With re-examination centres spread across hundreds of locations nationwide, the logistical and financial strain of appearing again is substantial. Student groups and parents have called for swift action and a credible, time-bound re-examination schedule.

With the CBI probe underway and political pressure mounting, the Centre faces a critical test of its ability to restore credibility to one of India's most high-stakes examinations.