The controversy around NEET UG 2026 has escalated sharply after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on the Centre, alleging that the medical entrance exam has been “turned into an auction”.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi claimed that question papers were circulating on WhatsApp nearly 42 hours before the exam. He said, “NEET is no longer an examination but an auction. Question papers were being sold on WhatsApp before the exam.”
He added that around 22–23 lakh students appeared for the exam and described their situation as deeply unfair. “Students studied all year and stayed awake for nights, but their future was auctioned in one night,” he alleged.
Rahul Gandhi also claimed that this is not an isolated incident, saying there have been repeated paper leaks and re-examinations over the past decade. “This is not the first time. There have been dozens of paper leaks and re-tests in 10 years,” he said, accusing the government of failing to fix the system.
“NEET has become a symbol of chaos”: Congress escalates attack
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the government, calling the examination system under the BJP “a symbol of disorder and distrust”.
Referring to reports from Rajasthan’s Sikar, he said handwritten “guess papers” allegedly matched a large portion of the NEET question paper. He accused the government of not taking strict action against what he called a “paper leak mafia”.
Kharge said repeated controversies show that instead of improving transparency, the system is being weakened further.
Rajasthan SOG probe triggers nationwide concern
The allegations gained momentum after Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) began investigating claims that a handwritten “question bank” circulated before the exam contained a large number of matching questions.
According to officials, the material allegedly reached students in Sikar just days before NEET UG 2026. Investigators are examining whether this was an unusually accurate prediction set or part of an organised leak network.
Reports suggest that several suspects have been questioned, and digital evidence including WhatsApp chats and call records is under scrutiny.
Opposition vs government over exam integrity
The Opposition has argued that repeated exam controversies are damaging trust in India’s competitive examination system, especially for high-stakes exams like NEET, which determine medical admissions for lakhs of students.
Rahul Gandhi said, “Every time there is a paper leak, promises are made, but nothing changes on the ground. Students from poor families suffer the most.”
He further alleged that the government shifts responsibility instead of fixing systemic failures.
NTA response and security claims
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has maintained that NEET UG 2026 was conducted under strict security protocols. It said question papers were transported under GPS tracking, centres were monitored with AI-enabled CCTV systems, and biometric verification was used at entry points.
The agency has also confirmed that it is cooperating with investigating agencies and has shared all relevant data for verification. It said it will not comment on the outcome until the investigation is complete.
