New Delhi, July 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the toughest possible action against those responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak, underscoring that safeguarding the integrity of public examinations is a national priority. The remarks were made during the NDA Parliamentary Party’s ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting on Tuesday and were shared by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
According to Rijiju, the Prime Minister urged all stakeholders to work together to develop a robust and foolproof examination system that would prevent future instances of question paper leaks and protect the interests of students across the country.
Modi also appealed to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners to remain united in ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session. While acknowledging political differences, he urged both the ruling alliance and opposition parties to cooperate on legislative matters, saying that the welfare of the nation and its youth should remain a common objective.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid continuing political and public debate over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, particularly the NEET paper leak. On Monday, large-scale student protests in Delhi were halted by police before demonstrators could reach Parliament. Security personnel used tear gas and baton charges to disperse sections of the crowd after protesters attempted to march despite restrictions.
The demonstrations were led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a political group formed earlier this year, whose members have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the handling of examination-related controversies.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), India’s premier medical entrance examination, is taken annually by more than two million candidates seeking admission to undergraduate medical courses. Following allegations that this year’s question paper had been leaked before the examination, authorities cancelled the original test and conducted a fresh examination late last month.
The controversy has also coincided with criticism of the online evaluation system used in examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), with some students alleging incorrect grades and errors in the publication of results.
Rijiju said the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s swift response after reports of the alleged paper leak surfaced. Investigative agencies were directed to take immediate action, leading to multiple arrests in connection with the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the matter, has arrested a man identified as the alleged mastermind behind the paper leak. Investigators have described him as a chemistry lecturer who was reportedly associated with examination-related activities of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Ministry of Education has also launched an online portal allowing the public to report suspicious claims, fraudulent content and other irregularities related to the NEET examination.
According to Rijiju, Modi said the decision to conduct a re-examination was taken promptly to minimise disruption to students’ academic futures and restore confidence in the examination process.
The protests gained further attention after social activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to a hospital on Saturday, bringing his 21-day hunger strike to an end. Wangchuk had been observing the fast in support of the student movement. He later announced that he would continue his hunger strike from the hospital, expressing concern over the police action against protesters.
Although the Prime Minister did not address the ongoing protests during his public remarks before the start of the Monsoon Session on Monday, the issue continued to dominate political discussions in Parliament.
Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party later met Union Minister J.P. Nadda and submitted a memorandum outlining their demands. The minister confirmed that the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, adding that the initiative for the discussion came from the protesters.
