Future of youth auctioned: Rahul Gandhi’s sharp attack on Modi govt over NEET

Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP government of turning NEET-UG 2026 into an “auction” amid alleged paper leak reports, while Congress leaders slammed recurring exam irregularities. The NTA defended the examination process, saying strict security measures were implemented and investigations are ongoing

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday attacked the BJP over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026, with Rahul Gandhi claiming that it is not an exam anymore but an “auction” and that no one poses a greater threat to the dreams of India’s youth than the Modi government. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said he stands with the country’s youth in an “incredibly difficult time” and vowed to change the system.

“I heard the news about the NEET 2026 paper leak. It’s not an exam anymore –NEET is now an auction. Many questions were being sold on WhatsApp 42 hours before the exam,” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

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Over 22 lakh children studied through sleepless nights all year, burning the midnight oil, and in one night, their future was openly “auctioned off” in the marketplace, he said.

“This isn’t the first time. In 10 years, 89 paper leaks-48 re-exams. Every time, the same promises, and then the same silence,” the former Congress chief said. “Modi ji, when you pass on to the public the bill of every failure, the future of the poor’s children gets included in that very bill,” he said.

“The trust of 22 lakh children has been shattered. And no one poses a greater threat to the dreams of India’s youth than the Modi government. I stand with India’s youth. I know this is an incredibly difficult time. But this system won’t stay like this. Together, we’ll change it,” Gandhi asserted. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the examination system under the Modi government has become a complete symbol of disorder, distrust, and chaos.

“At least 4 NEET papers have leaked so far – 2026, 2024, 2021, 2016! In Sikar, Rajasthan, a handwritten ‘guess paper’ is available before the exam, out of which 135 questions directly matched the actual NEET paper. This was being sold openly and rampantly, and the central government had no inkling of it?” Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.

“Toying with the future of millions of youth has become a habit for the BJP. This incompetent government doesn’t provide jobs, it rigs recruitment-exams, it protects the paper-leak mafia, and once caught, it gets busy with cover-ups!” Kharge said.

Slamming the BJP over alleged irregularities in NEET, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is accountable to the country’s youth and asked how long will this cycle of ruining their future go on.

In a post on X in Hindi, the Congress general secretary said, “Once again, reports are surfacing about large-scale irregularities in the NEET UG exam. The rampant corruption in exams over the past several years under the BJP rule is robbing the country’s youth of their future.” This time too, the future of nearly 23 lakh students has been tampered with, she alleged.

“Children toil with all their might for exams like NEET. Parents sacrifice everything they have so that their children’s future can be secured. But every exam falls prey to corruption. What’s the use of the so-called stringent law brought in Parliament against paper leaks if corruption continues on the ground?” the Congress general secretary said. “The prime minister is accountable to the country’s youth. How long will this cycle of ruining the youth’s future go on,” she asked.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has said the NEET-UG 2026 was conducted under a “full security protocol” and that it is working closely with investigating agencies amid reports of alleged irregularities being probed by the Rajasthan special operations group (SOG). The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted by the NTA on May 3 for students seeking admission to medical education courses at the undergraduate level.

In a post on X on Sunday, the NTA said question papers were transported in GPS-tracked vehicles carrying unique, traceable watermark identifiers, while examination centres were monitored through AI-assisted CCTV surveillance from a central control room.

The agency said biometric verification of all candidates was conducted, and 5G jammers were deployed at centres to ensure the sanctity of the examination. “The examination process itself proceeded as planned across all centres on the day,” the NTA said.

“The National Testing Agency is aware of reports concerning the action initiated by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group in connection with alleged irregularities around NEET (UG) 2026. The examination on May 3, 2026 was conducted as scheduled and under a full security protocol,” the NTA said.

According to the agency, inputs regarding alleged malpractice activity were received on the evening of May 7, four days after the examination, and were escalated to central agencies on the morning of May 8 for “independent verification and necessary action”. It further said the action taken by law enforcement authorities, including recent detentions reported in the media, was a result of the “professional and timely work” of the investigating agencies.

“NTA places on record its appreciation for the agencies leading this effort and confirms that it is working closely with them in a fully supporting role, providing all examination-related data and technical assistance required,” it said. The NTA said the matter remains under investigation and that it would not “pre-judge the inquiry” or speculate on the outcome.