Kejriwal Slams Centre Over NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak, Demands Action Against ‘Exam Mafia’

New Delhi, May 2026 : Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Central government over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, accusing it of remaining silent and failing to act decisively against what he described as the “exam mafia”.

Addressing a press conference, the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor alleged that large-scale collusion at high levels and political protection extended to those involved in such crimes were among the major reasons behind repeated paper leaks in national examinations.

Kejriwal said the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination had caused immense distress to lakhs of students and their families, who spend years preparing for one of the country’s toughest entrance tests.

“The lives and future of lakhs of students are at stake because of the NEET paper leak, but the government appears to be looking the other way,” he said, questioning whether the authorities understood the mental stress and hardships faced by students and parents during such crises.

The NEET-UG examination conducted on May 3 was cancelled earlier in the day by the National Testing Agency after investigative agencies reportedly shared incriminating inputs regarding irregularities in the examination process.

Kejriwal accused the Centre of gross negligence and administrative failure, stating that this was not an isolated incident and that paper leaks had occurred repeatedly in the past.

“Similar incidents of NEET paper leaks took place in 2017, 2021, 2024 and now again in 2026. The government must tell the country what action was taken against those responsible for the earlier leaks,” he said.

The former Delhi Chief Minister further questioned the government’s ability to ensure transparent governance if it could not conduct national-level examinations fairly.

“If the government cannot conduct an examination without a paper leak, then how can people expect efficient governance from it?” he asked.

Kejriwal also demanded strict action against officials responsible for conducting examinations, saying accountability must be fixed at the highest levels.

“The future of lakhs of students cannot be compromised repeatedly. Those responsible for such failures must be held accountable and action should be taken against them for gross incompetence,” he said.

Recalling his own experiences while preparing for competitive examinations such as IIT and civil services, Kejriwal said students and parents undergo tremendous emotional and financial pressure during the preparation period.

He said repeated leaks and cancellations destroy the confidence of students in the examination system and create uncertainty about their future.

Expressing solidarity with affected candidates, Kejriwal also called upon students to raise their voice against those involved in paper leak rackets.

“I want to tell students that if they decide to protest against the paper leak mafia, Kejriwal stands with them,” he said.

The NEET-UG controversy has triggered nationwide outrage, with growing demands for a transparent investigation and stricter safeguards to protect the integrity of competitive examinations in the country.