NEET UG-2026 leaks: Siddaramaiah joins protest, demands Pradhan's resignation
Synopsis
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah took the NEET fight to the streets at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, demanding Education Minister Pradhan's resignation and the abolition of NEET — alleging four paper leaks since 2016 and accusing the Centre of making medical education a privilege for the coaching-class wealthy.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah joined a Karnataka Youth Congress protest at Freedom Park, Bengaluru on 21 May over alleged NEET UG-2026 irregularities.
He demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and full abolition of the NEET system.
Siddaramaiah alleged question paper leaks in 2016, 2021, 2024, and 2026 under the NEET regime.
He called for compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide due to NEET-related stress.
He alleged that NTA -engaged private agencies, reportedly blacklisted by some states, continue to operate the examination.
Graduate unemployment among those aged 20–29 has reached 69 per cent , he claimed, citing recent data.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, 21 May joined a protest at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, organised by the Karnataka Youth Congress against alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG-2026 examination, calling for the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the abolition of the NEET system altogether.
What Happened at Freedom Park
The protest drew All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, along with other senior party leaders. Demonstrators wore T-shirts bearing the slogan 'PM is Compromised' and held placards reading 'NEET scam exposed, Indian youth demands answers.' Siddaramaiah addressed the gathering after participating in the demonstration.
Siddaramaiah's Key Allegations
Launching a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government, Siddaramaiah alleged repeated question paper leaks in the NEET examination since the system's introduction in 2016. He claimed leaks occurred in 2016, 2021, 2024, and 2026, contrasting this with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (2004–2014), during which, he alleged, the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) was conducted without a single paper leak.
Siddaramaiah also demanded adequate compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide due to stress linked to NEET irregularities. 'The irresponsible Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has merely announced re-examinations and remained silent. He should have apologised to the parents of students who died by suicide and resigned by now,' Siddaramaiah said.
Call to Scrap NEET and Restore State Authority
The Chief Minister argued that NEET had made medical education inaccessible for students from poor, backward, and rural backgrounds, benefiting primarily those who could afford expensive coaching. 'The NEET system should be scrapped immediately and the pre-2015 system restored. States must regain their authority over medical entrance examinations,' he said.
Siddaramaiah noted that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and alleged that the Centre had weakened state rights by imposing NEET. He also alleged that private agencies associated with the National Testing Agency (NTA) — some of which had reportedly been blacklisted by certain states — continued to be engaged for conducting and evaluating NEET examinations.
Broader Political Charges
Siddaramaiah broadened his attack to include governance failures, citing what he described as recruitment scams under previous BJP governments in Karnataka led by former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and B.S. Yediyurappa. He claimed that for the first time in Karnataka's history, an ADGP-rank police officer was sent to jail in connection with sub-inspector recruitment irregularities.
He also alleged that graduate unemployment among those aged 20 to 29 had reached 69 per cent, according to recent data, warning that a country unable to employ its youth risked sliding into poverty. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he alleged that the Prime Minister was on a Europe tour 'while students are dying by suicide.'
What Comes Next
The Congress has not yet indicated whether it will escalate the protest to Parliament or pursue legal avenues. The BJP-led Centre has not issued a formal response to Siddaramaiah's specific demands as of the time of reporting. With NEET UG-2026 re-examinations reportedly announced, pressure on the NTA and the Education Ministry is expected to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
And NEET — with its documented 2024 paper-leak controversy still fresh — is ideal terrain. The demand to scrap NEET and restore state-level CET is popular with rural and OBC voters, but it elides a harder question: Karnataka's own pre-NEET CET had its share of irregularities. The 69 per cent graduate unemployment figure, if verified, is the more explosive claim — one that no party, including Congress at the Centre during its own tenures, has a clean record on. The real accountability gap is the NTA's continued reliance on blacklisted private agencies, a structural failure that neither side has moved to legislatively fix.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NEET UG-2026 controversy about?
The NEET UG-2026 controversy centres on alleged question paper leaks and irregularities in the medical entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency. Opposition leaders, including Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, allege this is part of a pattern of leaks dating back to 2016.
Why is Siddaramaiah demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation?
Siddaramaiah holds Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan morally responsible for repeated NEET paper leaks and the alleged failure to protect students. He argued that Pradhan should have apologised to families of students who died by suicide and resigned instead of merely announcing re-examinations.
What is the Congress demand regarding the NEET system?
The Congress, led by Siddaramaiah at this protest, is demanding the immediate scrapping of NEET and restoration of the pre-2015 system, under which states conducted their own medical entrance examinations. They argue NEET disproportionately disadvantages poor, rural, and backward-class students.
What role do private agencies play in the NEET controversy?
Siddaramaiah alleged that the NTA relies on private agencies for conducting and evaluating NEET, and that some of these agencies have already been blacklisted by certain states. He claimed the NTA continues to use their services despite this, pointing to a structural accountability gap.
Has NEET faced paper leak allegations before 2026?
Yes. Siddaramaiah alleged paper leaks occurred in 2016, 2021, 2024, and 2026 under the NEET regime. The 2024 leak drew national attention and led to Supreme Court scrutiny and a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, making the 2026 allegations particularly politically charged.
