Siddaramaiah seeks return of state-controlled medical entrance tests after NEET paper leak

The article includes an 'Also Read' reference stating that NEET 2026 re-exam was scheduled for June 21, as announced by the NTA.

Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa criticised the National Testing Agency, questioning its functioning and calling for abolition of the NTA. He urged that future NEET-related issues be discussed with state governments, called the paper leak a 'great tragedy', and criticized the decision to conduct a re-exam as a 'bulldozing act'. He asserted that since the NTA's formation, question papers have allegedly leaked six times and urged the Prime Minister to take responsibility for the leaks.

From the Chief Minister's Office, Siddaramaiah argued the Centre's cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 exposed the weaknesses of a centralised testing system. He asserted that powers to conduct such entrance examinations should be reinstated to the states and called for immediate clarity on the revised examination schedule. He described the Centre's decision as a cruel betrayal of the country’s youth, noting that over 2.2 million students nationwide (including more than 1 lakh from Karnataka) had appeared for the exam, and that parents had spent heavily on coaching, travel and related expenses.

Siddaramaiah said Karnataka had consistently opposed NEET, including in 2024, arguing the exam disadvantaged rural and poor students, weakened the school education system and reduced states' role in admissions. He stated that opposition was vindicated by the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation due to a paper leak and reiterated the demand to restore states' powers to conduct medical entrance examinations. He also urged a transparent, time-bound investigation into the leak and a clear revised schedule, including calls for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.