Vijay Calls for NEET Ban After 2026 Paper Leak:Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has reignited the debate over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) after the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 due to an alleged paper leak. Calling the incident “conclusive proof” of deep-rooted systemic failures, Vijay demanded the complete abolition of NEET and urged the Centre to restore medical admissions based on Class 12 marks.
The controversy erupted after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled NEET-UG 2026 following allegations that the question paper had been leaked and circulated before the exam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has since launched a nationwide probe, arresting multiple accused across Rajasthan, Gurugram, and Nashik.
Vijay Calls for NEET Ban After 2026 Paper Leak
In a strongly worded statement, Vijay said the latest leak exposed “structural flaws” in India’s centralized medical entrance examination system. He argued that repeated controversies surrounding NEET have shattered the confidence of lakhs of aspirants and disadvantaged students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds.
He said, “The government reiterates the state’s long-pending demand to…permit the states to fill all seats under the State quota in MBBS, BDS…AYUSH courses on the basis of Class 12 marks.”
According to Vijay, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET since its introduction, claiming the examination disproportionately benefits urban, English-medium, and coaching-centre-supported students. He reiterated the state’s demand that admissions to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses should be based on Class 12 board marks instead of a single national-level test.
NEET UG 2026 Leak Scandal: CBI Uncovers WhatsApp, Telegram, and Courier Trail Behind Paper Leak
CBI Probe
The investigation indicates that middlemen developed a complex network which connected with coaching centers and used various digital methods to distribute the NEET-UG 2026 exam paper. The initial research findings show that candidates received handwritten question papers which were converted into PDF files through scanning.
The CBI has arrested five suspects while executing search warrants at multiple sites. The officials have taken control of electronic equipment which includes mobile devices and computers for forensic assessment.
The NEET reform discussion has reached a critical point. The ongoing dispute has brought back examination security concerns which exist in India. Experts and policymakers are once again debating whether NEET should shift to a computer-based format to reduce the risk of paper leaks.
Reports indicate that discussions on transitioning NEET online have been ongoing since 2018 but remain unresolved due to disagreements between authorities.
The NEET controversy is not new. The NEET-UG 2024 examination faced identical accusations which led to nationwide protests and police reports and Supreme Court proceedings. The investigations from that period revealed that organized paper leak operations connected brokers with coaching facilities.
Political Reactions
The problem now exists as a major political dispute which has developed into a critical conflict. Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal together with other opposition leaders made accusations against the Centre because of ongoing paper leak problems.
The BJP dismissed all claims which connected its members to people who police arrested during the investigation. The dispute will become more intense because investigations will keep going while students wait to learn what will happen with NEET-UG 2026.
