NEET-UG 2026 cancelled: Sisodia slams BJP govt, says 'I was jailed for nothing'
Synopsis
The NTA's cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 has reignited a fierce political storm, with Manish Sisodia invoking his own 18-month imprisonment to argue that paper leak masterminds enjoy political protection. With 22 lakh students in limbo and Delhi Police rescuing 18 aspirants from a confinement racket, India's most contested medical entrance exam is once again at the centre of a credibility crisis.
Key Takeaways
The NTA cancelled NEET-UG 2026 — held on 3 May — following alleged irregularities flagged by the Rajasthan SOG probe; re-exam dates are yet to be announced.
Manish Sisodia alleged the BJP -led Centre shields influential paper leak accused, contrasting it with his own 18-month imprisonment.
The cancellation affects an estimated 22 lakh students who appeared for the exam.
Delhi Police rescued 18 NEET aspirants from Delhi-NCR hotels on 3 May , held by a gang charging ₹20–30 lakh per student for guaranteed MBBS seats.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also accused the Modi government of failing to curb NEET malpractices.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday, 12 May launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government over the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, alleging government negligence on paper leaks and claiming that those responsible are "let off immediately."
His remarks came after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam — originally conducted on 3 May — following reports of alleged irregularities linked to a probe by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG). The NTA announced the exam would be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately.
Sisodia's Accusations Against the Centre
Sisodia said: "The way NEET papers are getting leaked almost every year, it reflects that the Union government is not bothered about the students appearing for the exam." He further questioned, "Where will the lakhs of students and their parents go? What is the government doing?"
The former minister also alleged that individuals involved in paper leaks are shielded by their connections to those in power. "The people who indulge in such acts are kept in prison for some time and then let off. This shows that influential people, who have links with those in power, are also involved," he said.
Sisodia Draws Parallel to His Own Imprisonment
Sisodia, who spent 18 months in jail in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, drew a pointed contrast: "I did nothing but was still kept in jail for 18 months but those who are destroying the future of 22 lakh students and their parents, are being let off immediately."
He further alleged that the NTA has completely "failed" and that "the agency is messing with the future of the country's students."
Delhi Police Rescue 18 NEET Aspirants from Confinement
In a separate but related development, Delhi Police rescued 18 NEET aspirants from various hotels in Delhi-NCR on the eve of the exam on 3 May. The aspirants had allegedly been held in confinement by a gang that had collected ₹20–30 lakh each from their families by promising guaranteed MBBS admissions under management and other quotas. The students were counselled and helped to appear in the exam.
Congress Also Raises Alarm
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday raised the issue of alleged "corruption" in the NEET-UG exam, accusing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government of failing to check malpractices that endanger the future of India's youth. This comes amid a pattern of political opposition converging on exam integrity as a national accountability issue.
With the re-examination date yet to be announced, the futures of an estimated 22 lakh students who appeared for NEET-UG 2026 remain in uncertainty — and pressure on the Centre and NTA to ensure a credible, leak-free re-test is mounting from multiple quarters.
Point of View
Yet no senior official at the NTA has been held publicly accountable. Sisodia's comparison of his own imprisonment to the apparent impunity of paper leak networks is politically motivated, but the underlying question it raises — why no kingpin has faced sustained prosecution — is legitimate and goes unanswered. The Delhi Police confinement rescue adds a criminal-enterprise dimension that goes well beyond exam administration. The Centre's silence on a structural overhaul of the NTA is becoming harder to justify.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was NEET-UG 2026 cancelled?
The National Testing Agency cancelled NEET-UG 2026, originally held on 3 May, following reports of alleged irregularities linked to a probe by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG). The re-examination date is yet to be announced.
What did Manish Sisodia say about the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation?
Sisodia accused the BJP-led Central government of negligence on paper leaks and alleged that influential individuals involved are 'let off immediately.' He drew a contrast with his own 18-month imprisonment, saying those destroying the futures of 22 lakh students face no sustained consequences.
How many students are affected by the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation?
An estimated 22 lakh students who appeared for the exam on 3 May are affected, as they now await a re-examination on dates to be notified separately by the NTA.
What was the Delhi Police NEET aspirant rescue case?
Delhi Police rescued 18 NEET aspirants from hotels in Delhi-NCR on the eve of the exam on 3 May. A gang had allegedly collected ₹20–30 lakh each from their families by promising guaranteed MBBS admissions under management and other quotas. The students were counselled and helped to sit the exam.
Has the Congress also raised concerns over NEET-UG 2026?
Yes, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday accused the Modi-led Union government of failing to check malpractices in NEET-UG, saying the alleged corruption endangers the future of India's youth.
