Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday, 22 May acknowledged the 'mental torture' endured by 22 lakh students following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, and gave an unequivocal assurance that the rescheduled retest on 21 June 2026 will be fully free of irregularities. Speaking at a public event in New Delhi, Pradhan urged students and parents to place their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the broader education system.

Why the Exam Was Cancelled

Pradhan defended the government's decision to scrap the earlier NEET-UG sitting as a necessary, if painful, intervention. 'I understand the pain suffered by 22 lakh students and say this with full responsibility that we had to take the tough decision of cancelling the exam for ensuring fair play with all deserving medical aspirants,' he said.

The minister did not shy away from the political cost of the move, acknowledging that the government has faced 'stigma and public ire' for the cancellation. He framed it, however, as a stand against what he called the 'examination mafia' — organised networks within the education sector that, he argued, would have denied meritorious candidates their rightful outcomes had the tainted exam been allowed to stand.

Commitment to a Clean Retest

Pradhan stated that the Education Ministry is fully committed to delivering a 100 per cent error-free NEET-UG examination on 21 June 2026. He accepted personal accountability for the systemic correction, saying it was his duty 'to set the system right but not turn a blind eye to the root cause of the irregularity.' He added: 'In a democracy, it is our duty to take the responsibility.'

The minister also defended the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE)'s introduction of an on-screen marking scheme for Board exams, dismissing criticism of the move. He argued the reform addresses a long-standing inequity in assessment, where students from well-resourced urban schools have historically received marks that do not reflect a uniform standard compared with equally meritorious students from rural, distant schools.

Warning on Coaching Culture and Student Pressure

In remarks that touched on a sensitive undercurrent — the rising incidence of suicides among competitive exam aspirants — Pradhan called on parents to reflect on the 'excessive coaching culture' and the pressure it places on young students. 'It is not good to turn a student into a commodity and mount unbearable pressure on him that he loses his matrix or balance,' he said.

Citing Prime Minister Modi's own words, he reminded the audience: 'Competence is more important than a certificate.' He urged families to support children without converting academic preparation into a source of unbearable stress.

Broader Call for Systemic Reform

Pradhan called for collective societal action against the use of unfair means in examinations, acknowledging that stringent laws alone cannot eradicate malpractice. 'An honest criticism should be accepted if it is intended to improve the system,' he said, adding that only 'collective consultation and criticism can show the way forward.'

He also reiterated faith in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, describing it as 'a philosophical document of the country' that should guide the transformation of India's education ecosystem. With the 21 June retest now less than a month away, all eyes will be on the National Testing Agency's ability to deliver on the government's zero-irregularity promise.