Karnataka Minister Demands Centre Allow States to Conduct NEET After 2026 Exam Cancellation

Sharan Prakash Patil has strongly criticised the handling of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 after the examination was cancelled following allegations of a major question paper leak. The Karnataka Medical Education Minister demanded the resignation of the Union education minister and urged the Centre to allow states to conduct their own medical entrance examinations if the National Testing Agency (NTA) is unable to ensure a fair process.

Speaking to reporters after the cancellation announcement, Sharan Prakash Patil said incidents of paper leaks and examination malpractice had become a recurring problem under the current system. He alleged that the latest controversy was among the “biggest scams” under the government and claimed there was a nexus involving coaching centres, individuals within the NTA and other stakeholders behind the leak.

The minister argued that repeated failures in conducting NEET were unfairly affecting the future of nearly 23 lakh students who spend years preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance examination. He reiterated Karnataka’s long-standing demand that states be permitted to hold their own entrance tests if central authorities are unable to conduct examinations securely and transparently.

The cancellation has triggered frustration and anxiety among students across the country. A NEET aspirant from Bengaluru said his family had to cancel an international trip because the examination would now have to be retaken. Another student raised concerns about regional disparities in the availability of medical seats, arguing that students from northern states face higher cut-offs due to fewer institutions and accusing policymakers of failing to expand medical infrastructure evenly across India.

The controversy has once again brought attention to the recurring history of NEET-related paper leaks and examination irregularities. In 2016, an interstate racket allegedly sold leaked NEET question papers for lakhs of rupees, leading to arrests in Uttar Pradesh. In 2021, portions of the paper reportedly circulated online shortly before the exam, resulting in multiple arrests. In 2024, authorities uncovered another major leak in Bihar a day before the examination, with more than 36 people, including MBBS students, arrested in connection with the case. The same year, NEET-PG was postponed after reports of malpractice and impersonation surfaced.

According to preliminary findings in the latest 2026 controversy, a “guess paper” circulating on social media days before the examination allegedly matched around 120 questions from the biology and chemistry sections of the actual paper. Investigators from the Rajasthan Police are examining the source and distribution network behind the leaked material.

The incident has intensified the ongoing debate around the centralised medical entrance examination system, with critics questioning the credibility of high-stakes national testing and demanding stronger safeguards, decentralisation and greater accountability in the conduct of entrance examinations.