'Amrit Kaal Turned Into Poison Era': Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over NEET-UG 2026 Cancellation

Last Updated:May 12, 2026, 14:51 IST

Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led Centre after the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, alleging that paper leaks and “organised corruption” had destroyed the dreams of students.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday attacked the BJP-led Centre after the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, saying the “hard work, sacrifices, and dreams" of lakhs of students had been crushed by “government negligence" and “organised corruption in education."

The reaction came after the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced that the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3 had been cancelled amid allegations of paper leak and irregularities.

The government has also referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive probe.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said the cancellation of the medical entrance examination had deeply affected students and their families across the country.

“The NEET 2026 exam has been canceled. The hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been crushed by this corrupt BJP regime," he said.

The Congress leader highlighted the financial and emotional burden borne by families preparing for the highly competitive examination.

“Some fathers took loans, some mothers sold their jewelry, lakhs of children stayed up all night studying, and in return, they got paper leaks, government negligence, and organized corruption in education," Gandhi wrote.

Calling the situation a betrayal of students, he added, “This is not just a failure—it’s a crime against the future of the youth."

‘PAPER MAFIA GETS AWAY’: RAHUL GANDHI

Rahul Gandhi further alleged that honest students were suffering while those responsible for leaks escaped accountability.

“Every time, the paper mafia gets away scot-free, while honest students bear the punishment," he said.

He also pointed to the stress that candidates would face due to the re-examination process.

“Now, lakhs of students will once again endure the same mental stress, financial burden, and uncertainty," Gandhi stated.

Questioning the credibility of the examination system, the Congress MP said, “If one’s destiny is determined not by hard work but by money and connections, then what meaning will education hold?"

In a sharp swipe at the Centre, Gandhi said, “The Prime Minister’s so-called Amrit Kaal has turned into a poison era for the country."

NTA ANNOUNCES FRESH EXAM, CBI PROBE

The NTA said the cancellation decision was taken “in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system."

The agency stated that inputs examined in coordination with central agencies and findings shared by law enforcement authorities led to the decision to scrap the examination.

The NEET-UG 2026 examination was held across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad for nearly 23 lakh registered candidates.

The NTA said fresh dates for the re-conducted examination and revised admit-card schedules would be announced later through official channels.

It also clarified that no fresh registration would be required and no additional examination fee would be charged from candidates.

INVESTIGATION CENTRES AROUND ‘GUESS PAPER’

The controversy surrounding the examination intensified after the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group (SOG) began probing alleged irregularities linked to a “guess paper" circulated before the examination.

According to Rajasthan SOG Additional Director General Vishal Bansal, the alleged guess paper contained around 410 questions, with nearly 120 linked to Chemistry.

He had said investigators were examining claims that the material had circulated among students weeks before the exam.

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