‘Cannot Gamble with Youth’s Future’: Naveen on NEET Leak Row

Bhubaneswar: BJD President and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination following reports of a paper leak, calling it a “severe blow” to the sacred trust students place in India’s examination system.

In a strongly worded statement, LoP Naveen said that compromising the sanctity of examinations amounts to a betrayal of lakhs of aspirants who dedicate years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice in pursuit of their dreams.

“When the sanctity of examinations is compromised, it is not just a lapse—it is a betrayal of lakhs of aspirants who studied with discipline, sacrificed comforts, and devoted sleepless nights to their preparation. This is not the first time NEET papers have been leaked. The leaks deepen cynicism, heighten anxiety, and jeopardize the careers of hardworking students who expect fairness”, Naveen added.

Expressing concern over the future of India’s youth, the BJD President said the country cannot afford to gamble with the destiny of students and stressed the urgent need to restore integrity and credibility in the examination process.
He said, “As a nation, we cannot gamble with the destiny of our youth—the future of India. The time has come to re-establish integrity in the examination process. Accountability must be swiftly fixed to restore students’ trust”.

The system must reassure every student that their sweat and perseverance will never be undermined again by lapses, Naveen stated.

Notably, the Central Government announced that the NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, would be re-conducted on fresh dates to be notified separately.

The matter has also been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive probe into the allegations of paper leak and malpractice.

In a statement, the National Testing Agency said the decision was taken after examining inputs received in coordination with central agencies. The agency stated that findings shared by law enforcement authorities raised serious concerns about the sanctity and fairness of the examination process.

The NTA clarified that registration details, candidature data and examination centres selected by candidates for the May 2026 cycle would remain valid for the re-test. It further stated that no fresh registration would be required and no additional examination fee would be charged from students.

NEET-UG, the single entrance examination for admission into MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical courses across the country, was held in pen-and-paper mode at over 5,400 centres across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. Around 22.79 lakh students appeared for the examination this year, making it one of the largest entrance examinations in the country.

Following the cancellation, uncertainty has gripped lakhs of aspirants and their families over revised examination dates, preparation schedules and admission timelines.