Pilot Slams BJP Over NEET, TET Paper Leaks
Synopsis
Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot has attacked the BJP-led central government over successive examination paper leaks — NEET, CBSE, and Maharashtra TET — warning that student anger is at a breaking point and demanding the government take decisive action or face intensifying youth protests.
Key Takeaways
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on 27 June 2026 publicly condemned the BJP government over multiple exam paper leaks, including NEET , CBSE marking irregularities, and the Maharashtra TET .
Pilot claimed more than 90 paper leaks have occurred under the BJP government with no concrete punitive action — a figure cited in his post but not independently verified.
He warned the central government not to dismiss students' voices, saying youth across the country have taken to the streets in protest.
The post was addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge , Rahul Gandhi , and Priyanka Gandhi , signalling a coordinated party push on the issue.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) , set up in 2017 to prevent malpractice in high-stakes exams, has faced repeated criticism as leaks have continued at both national and state levels.
The issue is expected to be raised in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament , with possible Supreme Court hearings on pending leak petitions also on the horizon.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot, the party's general secretary and Chhattisgarh in-charge, on Saturday, 27 June 2026, sharply attacked the BJP-led central government over a fresh wave of examination paper leaks — citing the NEET paper leak, alleged irregularities in the CBSE marking system, and the latest Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak — calling them proof that the government has failed to safeguard the country's education system.
Posting on X and tagging senior Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, Pilot wrote: 'पहले NEET का पेपर लीक, फिर CBSE के मार्किंग सिस्टम में गड़बड़ी और अब महाराष्ट्र TET का पेपर लीक' — ('First the NEET paper leak, then irregularities in the CBSE marking system, and now the Maharashtra TET paper leak') — arguing that these incidents collectively expose systemic failure at the top.
Context
Pilot's post comes amid sustained student protests across India over repeated examination integrity failures. He claimed that more than 90 paper leaks have occurred under the BJP government, and that no concrete action has been taken in response. Note: this figure, as stated in the post, could not be independently verified by NationPress.
He warned that the central government must not dismiss students' voices, writing: 'केंद्र सरकार को छात्रों की गूँज को हल्के में नहीं लेना चाहिए' — ('The central government should not take the echo of students lightly'). He added that every young person in the country is 'distressed by this paper-leak system and has taken to the streets.'
Policy Backdrop
The National Testing Agency (NTA), established in 2017, was constituted specifically to centralise and standardise high-stakes entrance examinations — including NEET — that were previously conducted by CBSE and other bodies. The agency's creation was intended to bring uniformity and reduce malpractice, yet paper-leak allegations have continued to surface at both national and state levels.
India's National Education Policy (NEP), approved in 2020, also emphasised assessment reform as a core pillar of restructuring school and higher education. Critics have argued that the policy's intent has not translated into robust examination security on the ground.
Stakeholders and Impact
The most directly affected are lakhs of students preparing for medical admissions through NEET and aspiring school teachers seeking recruitment via state TETs. Each leak forces re-examinations, delays results, and erodes trust in the credibility of merit-based selection. Youth protesters have staged demonstrations in multiple cities demanding accountability.
The Maharashtra TET leak, the latest in this series, affects candidates seeking teacher posts in Maharashtra's government school system — a cohort that has already navigated years of delayed recruitments and administrative uncertainty.
What's Next
Pilot's post, addressed directly to the Congress high command, signals that the party intends to escalate pressure on the government, potentially carrying the issue into the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Analysts are watching for any fresh Supreme Court hearings on pending paper-leak petitions and the possible introduction of an examination-reforms bill.
Pilot closed his post with a pointed warning to the government: 'सरकार को निर्णायक फ़ैसला लेना ही पड़ेगा, वरना युवाओं का आक्रोश सरकार सहन नहीं कर पाएगी' — ('The government will have to take a decisive decision, otherwise it will not be able to bear the anger of the youth.') Whether that pressure translates into legislative action or further street mobilisation remains the defining question heading into the monsoon session.
Point of View
Linking three distinct examination failures — NEET, CBSE, and Maharashtra TET — into a single indictment of BJP governance. By tagging the party's top leadership, he is also signalling internal alignment on making exam integrity a flagship opposition issue rather than a one-off protest response. The recurring pattern of paper leaks despite the NTA's creation in 2017 gives the opposition structural ammunition: the very institution built to fix the problem has become exhibit A in the case against administrative competence. If Parliament takes up an examination-reforms bill this session, the BJP will face pressure to demonstrate credibility on an issue that cuts across caste, class, and region.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sachin Pilot say about NEET and paper leaks?
Sachin Pilot criticised the BJP-led central government on 27 June 2026, citing the NEET paper leak, CBSE marking irregularities, and the Maharashtra TET paper leak as evidence that the government has failed to protect India's education system. He claimed more than 90 paper leaks have occurred under BJP rule without decisive action.
What is the Maharashtra TET paper leak?
The Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is a state-level examination for school teacher recruitment in Maharashtra. A paper leak relating to this exam was cited by Sachin Pilot in his 27 June 2026 post as the latest in a series of examination integrity failures under the current government.
How many paper leaks have happened under the BJP government?
Congress leader Sachin Pilot claimed in his post that more than 90 paper leaks have occurred under the BJP government. This figure has not been independently verified by NationPress.
What is the NTA and why is it under scrutiny?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) was established in 2017 to centralise high-stakes entrance examinations, including NEET, and reduce malpractice. It has faced criticism because paper leaks and examination irregularities have continued to surface despite its creation, undermining its original mandate.
What action is Congress demanding on paper leaks?
Congress has demanded that the central government take decisive action to end paper leaks and restore examination integrity. Sachin Pilot warned that student anger is at a breaking point and that the government will not be able to withstand youth protests if it fails to act.
