After leaks, NTA gets into revenge mode to set tough question paper: Khan Sir

The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 has sparked outrage among medical aspirants across the country, with educator Khan Sir accusing the National Testing Agency (NTA) of repeatedly failing students and mishandling examination leaks.

Reacting to the scrapping of the May 3 medical entrance examination over allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, Khan Sir questioned the credibility of the NTA and said students were being forced to suffer because of systemic failures in the examination process.

“This is nothing short of playing games with the lives of lakhs of students. Their confidence is being shattered,” he said.

The NTA cancelled NEET-UG 2026 after allegations of irregularities surfaced from multiple states. The Centre has since ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while investigations are also being carried out by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and other agencies.

NEET-UG 2026 was conducted on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 abroad for more than 22 lakh candidates seeking admission to undergraduate medical courses.

‘NTA SHOULD BE CALLED NEVER TRUSTABLE AGENCY’

Khan Sir sharply criticised the NTA, alleging that authorities had repeatedly failed to prevent leaks despite claims of strict security arrangements.

“The government agencies should be aware of this. The agency that we have given to conduct the exam, they don't even understand whether they have been given to conduct the exam or leak it,” he said.

“NTA, National Testing Agency, should be named as Never Trustable Agency,” he said in one of his strongest remarks.

He also questioned the pace and effectiveness of investigations into examination leaks, saying students are left in uncertainty for years while agencies continue their inquiries.

In one of his most viral remarks, he mocked the security systems around the examination process. “The diapers and pampers of kids worth Rs 10, they don't get leaked, their papers get leaked,” he said.

“And who will investigate this? CBI. When will CBI get rid of us? If this goes to CBI, their investigation will continue till the MBBS of the kids is completed.”

He demanded that a retired Supreme Court judge be appointed to monitor the case.

“A retired judge of the Supreme Court should be made an observer of this. Whoever is responsible should be severely punished. If he is not punished, tomorrow some other state will be named here. Ultimately, the future of the kids will be ruined because of this.”

He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Supreme Court of India to intervene directly.

‘CHILDREN ARE GOING INTO DEPRESSION’

A large part of Khan Sir’s criticism focused on the emotional toll the cancellation has taken on students, especially those expecting high scores after months of preparation.

“Think what will happen to those students whose marks were expected to be above 700 or above 650,” he said.

According to him, many students are now facing severe stress, uncertainty and emotional exhaustion.

“Students are now approaching us in distress,” he said.

Khan Sir also narrated the story of a student whose mother died in January but who continued preparing for NEET after being encouraged by teachers and mentors. He said the cancellation had left many such students emotionally shattered.

“We motivated him so much. We told him study, everything in your house will become fine if you crack a good exam. Today, how will we go to that kid? We do not have the courage to stand in front of him. He will break.”

He further highlighted the pressure faced by female students from conservative families, saying many feared losing the opportunity to continue their studies.

“There is only one paper leak for NTA. There is a whole life for someone,” he said.

NEET CONTROVERSIES OVER THE YEARS

Referring to previous controversies, Khan Sir alleged that authorities often make re-examinations tougher after paper leaks emerge, increasing pressure on students further.

“After the leak, they get into revenge mode and set an extremely tough paper,” he claimed while referring to earlier NEET controversies.

He also referred to the 2024 NEET controversy and older examination leak cases, claiming students had suffered mentally after authorities allegedly tightened question papers in response to leak allegations.

‘POOR FAMILIES ARE SUFFERING’

Khan Sir also spoke about the financial strain faced by families preparing children for competitive examinations.

“NTA people are millionaires, they are sitting at home. There are such kids whose fathers run carts on the roadside,” he said.

“Think about him. Pick him up and send him again 1,500 kilometres away for the exam. How will he give the exam?”

He said many students come from economically weak backgrounds, with families taking loans or making major sacrifices to support coaching, travel and accommodation expenses.

“When children leave their homes to study, their guardians tell them, ‘We are sending you for one year, we are sending you for two months.’ There is so much pain behind this,” he said.

Re-conducting the examination, he argued, would place an additional burden on already struggling households.

“Those who live in AC rooms cannot understand how many problems exist in a poor household,” he said.

‘COACHING HAS BECOME A BUSINESS’

The educator also targeted sections of the coaching industry, alleging that some operators had turned competitive examinations into a commercial business model.

Without naming any institution, he claimed some coaching operators were more focused on producing toppers and profits than protecting the integrity of examinations.

“There should be strict action against these people. There should be a proper investigation so that the future of children is not ruined,” he said.

WHY WAS NEET-UG 2026 CANCELLED?

The NTA cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination after allegations of irregularities linked to the test surfaced.

The matter is currently being investigated by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group and other agencies, while the Centre has ordered a CBI inquiry.

The NTA said the examination had originally been conducted under “full security protocol”, including GPS tracking of question papers, biometric verification, AI-assisted CCTV monitoring and deployment of 5G jammers.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

More than 22 lakh medical aspirants are now awaiting clarity on the revised examination schedule. NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said fresh dates for the re-examination would be announced within the “next seven to 10 days."

The agency said students would not have to register again, and no fresh examination fee would be charged. Existing registration data and examination centre preferences from the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward, though fresh admit cards will be issued.

The NTA also said the re-examination would now be conducted using its “internal resources”.

The agency had earlier claimed the examination was conducted under “full security protocol”, including GPS tracking of question papers, biometric verification, AI-assisted CCTV monitoring and deployment of 5G jammers.

LONG HISTORY OF NEET CONTROVERSIES

NEET has repeatedly faced scrutiny over allegations of paper leaks, impersonation rackets and examination irregularities.

In 2024, the examination faced nationwide protests and legal challenges after allegations of paper leaks and controversial grace marks surfaced. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court of India, which declined to order a nationwide re-test, saying there was insufficient evidence to establish a systemic breach affecting the entire examination process.

Following the 2024 controversy, the Centre constituted a reform panel headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation chief K Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in the functioning of the NTA and the conduct of entrance examinations.