Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday broke his silence on the NEET paper leak controversy with a late-night video message, announcing a series of measures aimed at restoring confidence in India's examination system amid nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities.

The Prime Minister said the issue was very painful and that the students and parents were worried about it, and that the government was determined to make the competitive examinations fair and transparent.

PM Modi Assures Students of Government Action

The Prime Minister in his speech said that the government was aware of the emotional toll on lakhs of students who had been preparing for competitive exams for months, due to the alleged paper leaks.

He said that the protection of the interests of students was still a top priority and that every effort was being made to ensure the integrity of the examination process was maintained.

Arrested In Connection With The Paper Leak Cases

Modi pointed to the government's action in the last two and a half months, stating that it had identified and arrested several accused in paper leak cases. He said that the government would take strict action against the culprits as investigations continued and that it was committed to regaining the public trust in the examination system.

Re-Examinations conducted for 22 Lakhs of students

The Prime Minister said the government had conducted re-examinations for nearly 22 lakh students to ensure they did not lose an academic year because of the controversy.

According to Modi, the results of the re-examinations were declared on July 19, allowing affected students to continue the admission process without major delays. He said the decision was taken to protect students' academic future while investigations into the alleged paper leaks continued.

The Government will Enact a More Stringent Anti-Paper Leak Law.

The government's intention to put in place a tougher law to tackle examination paper leaks was one of the main points in the Prime Minister's speech. The Union Cabinet will hold a discussion on the proposed legislation on Friday before finalizing its provisions, Modi said.

He also said the government would present a Bill in Parliament next week with measures to impose harsher penalties on people who leak examination papers and commit other malpractices.

The draft bill would also provide for fast-track courts to ensure paper leak cases are heard and decided on priority. The government will do its utmost to pass the Bill at the earliest, the Prime Minister said.

Rahul Gandhi Questions PM's Response

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi immediately responded to the Prime Minister's address, saying the video message did not mention the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In a post on X, Gandhi urged the Prime Minister not to "insult the intelligence of students" and reiterated three demands of the Opposition.

He demanded Pradhan's resignation, action against those who allegedly assaulted the protesting students and an apology from the government.

The criticism came a day before the nationwide protest call by the Cockroach Janta Party and just after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk broke his 26-day hunger strike in support of the student movement.

Government Signals More Reforms

The Prime Minister ended his speech by reiterating that safeguarding the future of India's youth was one of the top priorities of the Government.

The Centre's recent statements suggest that further legal and administrative steps may be taken to enhance the credibility of competitive examinations and to stop future paper leak incidents, as protests against alleged examination irregularities persist in various parts of the country.

For many students, preparing for NEET UG is challenging enough. For 23-year-old Vishal Tiwari from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, the journey involved much more than textbooks and mock tests. Married soon after completing school and becoming a father at 21, Vishal balanced family responsibilities, financial struggles, tuition work and four years of relentless preparation before finally clearing NEET UG 2026 with an impressive 605 marks.

His inspiring journey is a testament to resilience, family support and unwavering determination in the face of adversity.

Four years of perseverance

According to reports, Vishal, a resident of Mirzapur Pachpedwa Colony under the Gorakhnath police station area of Gorakhpur, completed his schooling at Saraswati Vidya Mandir and passed Class 12 with Biology in 2022.

His dream of becoming a doctor did not materialise immediately. For the first two years, he relied entirely on self-study because his family could not afford coaching classes. Despite repeated attempts, success remained elusive.

Recognising his determination, Vishal's parents borrowed money to enrol him in a coaching institute, giving him access to structured guidance that eventually helped him achieve his goal.

When the NEET UG 2026 results were declared, Vishal secured 605 out of 720 marks, ending a four-year journey marked by perseverance and sacrifice.

Balancing marriage, fatherhood and studies

Unlike many medical aspirants, Vishal's life took on additional responsibilities early. Shortly after completing school, he married Kalpana Pandey, a resident of Siddharthnagar district. Two years later, the couple welcomed their son, Virat.

Despite the demands of family life, Vishal remained focused on his medical ambitions.

He credited his wife for standing by him throughout his preparation, saying she took care of their young son and managed household responsibilities, allowing him to dedicate time to his studies without distraction.

Teaching by evening, studying till night

Financial constraints meant Vishal also had to contribute to the family's income.

Alongside attending coaching classes during the day, he conducted home tuition sessions in the evenings. After finishing his teaching responsibilities, he spent long hours studying in a library, often continuing his preparation until 11 p.m.

The modest income from tuition classes helped meet household expenses while enabling him to continue preparing for one of India's most competitive entrance examinations.

Parents' sacrifices made the dream possible

Vishal attributes much of his success to the unwavering support of his parents.

His father, Santosh Tiwari, earns a living as an auto-rickshaw driver, while his mother, Radhika Tiwari, stood beside him through every challenge. Despite limited financial resources, the family borrowed money to fund his coaching because they believed education could transform their future.

Vishal said becoming a doctor is his way of repaying his parents' sacrifices, especially his father's years of hard work behind the wheel of an auto-rickshaw.

His father expressed pride in his son's achievement, saying that despite financial difficulties, the family never wanted him to abandon his dream of pursuing medicine.

A dream inspired by family support

Interestingly, Vishal initially aspired to become an engineer because of his interest in mathematics. However, encouragement from his elder uncle motivated him to switch to Biology and pursue a career in medicine.

Today, qualifying NEET UG 2026 marks the beginning of that journey.

Looking ahead, Vishal has already set himself another heartfelt goal. He hopes that once he becomes a doctor, he will buy a car for his father, who spent years driving an auto-rickshaw to support the family's dreams.

His story serves as an inspiration to thousands of NEET aspirants across India, proving that financial hardship, family responsibilities and repeated setbacks need not stand in the way of success. With perseverance, discipline and the support of loved ones, even the most challenging dreams can become reality.

Teachers’ organisations from across India have launched a coordinated campaign against the mandatory implementation of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for certain in-service teachers, demanding amendments to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The move comes after a recent Supreme Court ruling that teacher groups describe as "unjust," prompting the formation of a national platform and the announcement of a nationwide protest on Teachers’ Day (September 5).

Representatives of teachers' organisations from multiple states met in New Delhi under the initiative of the Democratic Teachers' Front, Punjab, to discuss the challenges faced by lakhs of in-service teachers following the implementation of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).

The meeting resolved to oppose the mandatory application of TET for teachers who were recruited before the enactment of the RTE Act, 2009, as well as teachers of subjects that were earlier exempted from the TET requirement. The organisations argued that these categories of teachers should not be subjected to the eligibility test retrospectively.

To strengthen their campaign, the participating organisations announced the formation of the Joint Teachers' Front of India, a nationwide platform that will seek amendments to the RTE Act to exempt the affected teachers from mandatory TET requirements.

Beyond the immediate issue, the newly formed front said it would also raise concerns related to teachers' welfare, public education, and what it termed "privatisation-oriented" education policies at the national level.

A six-member Central Coordination Committee was constituted to lead the movement. The committee includes Jagdish Yadav, Vijender Mor, Vikram Dev Singh, Hitendra Sahasi, Bhaskar Ghosh, and Manjeet Rana.

The organisations also announced a nationwide protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on September 5, coinciding with Teachers' Day. Teachers affected by the Supreme Court decision have been urged to participate in large numbers.

Representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand attended the meeting, while organisations from Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and several other states extended support through messages.

As part of the campaign, awareness programmes and public outreach initiatives will be conducted at the state, district, and block levels to mobilise teachers and build public support.

The Joint Teachers' Front of India also warned that if the Central Government does not amend the RTE Act during the current session of Parliament to address the mandatory TET issue, it will launch a sustained nationwide agitation beginning on September 5 from New Delhi.

The political storm surrounding the NEET UG 2026 controversy intensified on Monday as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai demanded the resignation of the Union Education Minister, alleging that the future of millions of students has been put at risk. Addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Rai accused the government of mishandling the examination crisis. They called for immediate accountability amid growing public anger over the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak and examination irregularities.

Rai joined hundreds of students, activists and AAP leaders who gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest against the handling of the medical entrance examination. The demonstration also followed the removal of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site, a move that opposition leaders claimed had further intensified public resentment.

Speaking to reporters, Rai said students and young people from across the country had assembled to demand justice and transparency.

"The future of millions of students and youth is being pushed into darkness. The Education Minister should resign because people across the country are demanding accountability," he said.

The AAP leader further alleged that the government's action in ending Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike had fuelled public outrage and strengthened calls for protecting students' interests.

According to Rai, the removal of Wangchuk from the protest site has become another symbol of the government's alleged unwillingness to address public concerns. He said protesters were united in demanding that the Education Minister step down and that confidence in the country's education system be restored.

The protest gained further momentum as senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Atishi joined the demonstration, popularly referred to as the "Cockroach Protest", at Jantar Mantar. The party has been using the protest to demand strict action against those allegedly responsible for the NEET UG 2026 paper leak and examination-related irregularities.

A day earlier, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had appealed to citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations, to participate in the protest march to Parliament in solidarity with students affected by the examination controversy.

Addressing supporters, Sisodia alleged that the alleged paper leak had impacted nearly 22 lakh NEET aspirants across the country. He also claimed that several student suicides had been linked to the stress surrounding the examination process, urging the government to ensure stringent legal action against those responsible.

"The youth of the country have gathered to demand justice. Those responsible for cheating lakhs of students should face the strictest legal action," Sisodia said during the protest.

The NEET UG 2026 examination has remained at the centre of national debate after allegations of a paper leak led to the cancellation of the original examination and the conduct of a re-test. The issue has since triggered multiple investigations, including a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while political parties have continued to question the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The ruling government has not officially responded to the latest demand for the Education Minister's resignation. Meanwhile, investigations into the alleged examination irregularities continue, with authorities maintaining that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings.

As protests gather momentum, the NEET UG 2026 controversy has evolved beyond an examination issue into a broader political debate on transparency, accountability and the credibility of India's competitive examination system.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has dismissed a viral claim by a NEET UG 2026 candidate who alleged that her examination score dropped dramatically after changes were made to her OMR sheet. The agency said its verification found that the answer sheet circulating on social media had been digitally altered and did not match the original OMR sheet maintained in official records. It also reaffirmed that the candidate's official score of 167 marks is accurate and warned that creating or circulating forged or AI-generated examination documents could invite legal action.

The clarification comes amid growing scrutiny over the NEET UG 2026 re-examination results, with several students raising concerns over alleged discrepancies in their scores. The latest controversy centred on Kanpur-based medical aspirant Arya Singh, whose claims gained widespread attention on social media and prompted political leaders to demand an independent investigation.

According to Arya Singh, she had initially calculated her score as 609 marks after checking her corrected OMR sheet against the official answer key. She further alleged that when the results were declared, the portal first displayed 540 marks, but within a short period, her score was reduced to 167 marks.

In a video shared online, Singh stated that she possessed screenshots, her corrected OMR sheet and related documents, insisting that she was seeking only a fair verification of her result.

After examining the matter, the NTA issued a statement on July 20, saying it had thoroughly verified the candidate's examination records. The agency noted that the original OMR sheet was securely stored in its database and had also been sent to the candidate's registered email address during the answer key challenge window.

According to the agency, the image that went viral on social media was not genuine. NTA pointed to a specific discrepancy, stating that the invigilator's signature time had been altered from 3:45 PM on the original OMR sheet to 2:45 PM on the version circulated online. The agency further said it identified several additional signs of digital manipulation, confirming that the document had been tampered with.

Based on its verification, NTA maintained that 167 marks is the correct score and that no revision to the result is warranted.

Media reports cited documents showing Arya Singh's official result as 167 marks, with an All India Rank (AIR) of 12,52,036 and a category rank of 3,67,585.

In a separate public notice, the NTA said it has received multiple complaints involving allegedly altered OMR sheets and scorecards following the declaration of the NEET UG 2026 results. According to the agency, the cases examined so far involved fabricated or manipulated documents rather than genuine discrepancies.

The examination authority issued a strong warning against the creation, possession, submission or circulation of digitally altered or AI-generated examination records, stating that such actions may attract legal proceedings under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.

At the same time, the NTA emphasised that candidates with genuine concerns about their results can still seek verification through the official grievance redressal mechanism. Students have been advised to submit complaints via the NTA helpdesk, providing their application number, roll number and complete details of the alleged discrepancy for proper examination.

The agency reiterated that it is committed to investigating all authentic complaints while taking strict action against attempts to spread misinformation through forged examination documents. As scrutiny over the NEET UG 2026 results continues, the NTA has urged candidates and parents to rely only on official records and avoid sharing unverified or manipulated content on social media.

Nearly 200 contractual employees at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have allegedly gone without salaries for the past four months, triggering severe financial hardship and raising concerns over delays in the implementation of key government education initiatives. The employees, who work on flagship programmes such as DIKSHA, PM e-VIDYA, Jaadui Pitara and other projects under Samagra Shiksha, say they are struggling to repay loans, pay rent, meet children's school expenses and manage day-to-day household costs as salary disbursements remain stalled.

The affected staff are engaged under Project Approval Board (PAB)-approved programmes funded by the Union Ministry of Education. Spread across various NCERT departments in New Delhi, they contribute to curriculum development, digital education, teacher training and other school education initiatives that support the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Employees, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the prolonged salary delay as financially devastating.

One contractual employee said she is the sole earning member of her family and has been unable to pay her home loan instalments for months. With penalties mounting due to missed EMI payments, she has been forced to borrow money from friends to survive in Delhi while continuing to support her mother financially.

Another employee said the lack of salary had pushed his family into a difficult situation. Living in Delhi with his wife and children in rented accommodation, he said he had taken loans to cover essential expenses, including rent, children's school fees and household necessities, while waiting for pending salary payments.

According to the employees, their contracts expired on March 31 but were subsequently extended first until June and later until September. Despite the extensions, salaries for April, May, June and July have not been released. They claim that repeated inquiries with project coordinators and departmental heads yielded the same response—that funds from the Ministry of Education have not yet been released and certain administrative approvals remain pending.

"The administration keeps informing us that the ministry has not released the required funds and they are unable to indicate when salaries will be credited," one employee said.

Responding to media queries, NCERT Director Dinesh Saklani acknowledged the issue and said he had instructed the concerned departments to examine the matter immediately. However, he did not elaborate on the reasons behind the payment delay or provide a timeline for clearing the pending salaries.

The Union Ministry of Education has not yet issued an official response regarding the delay or clarified when the contractual employees will receive their dues.

The salary crisis comes despite an increase in NCERT's overall allocation in the Union Budget 2026-27, which rose by nearly 15%, from ₹593.71 crore in 2025-26 to ₹681.79 crore in the current financial year. However, the Project Approval Board (PAB) allocation for NCERT's Annual Work Plan, which supports Samagra Shiksha and other centrally funded school education programmes, declined by nearly 22%, falling from ₹677.13 crore to ₹529.71 crore.

Employees believe the delayed approval of the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) significantly contributed to the funding bottleneck. The PAB meeting for the 2026-27 financial year was held on June 12, nearly two months later than the previous year's meeting, which took place in April. According to staff members, the delayed approval slowed the release of project funds and disrupted salary payments.

They also pointed to recent ministry directives aimed at rationalising expenditure and optimising human resources. The official PAB meeting minutes recommend engaging external personnel only when necessary and reducing costs across several programmes. Although these recommendations do not directly attribute the salary delays to cost-cutting measures, employees believe they have contributed to the prolonged uncertainty.

The ongoing payment crisis has raised concerns about employee morale and the smooth execution of several nationally important education initiatives. With many contractual professionals continuing to work despite months without pay, stakeholders are urging the Ministry of Education and NCERT to expedite pending approvals and release salaries to prevent further disruption to India's school education programmes.