KTR demands Centre’s accountability over NEET row

BRS working president KT Rama Rao held the Centre accountable for alleged irregularities and the paper leak in NEET UG-2026, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s dismissal to restore students’ trust.

Hyderabad: Holding the Centre responsible for the alleged irregularities and paper leak in the NEET UG-2026 examination, BRS working president KT Rama Rao demanded for the dismissal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to restore students’ confidence in the system. He said students should not be punished for the failures of the government.

Before leaving for an official visit to Malaysia, Rama Rao interacted with students affected by the controversy and long-term NEET aspirants in Hyderabad, where several students narrated the stress and uncertainty they experienced following the alleged leak.

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Calling the entire incident an absolute failure of the National Testing Agency (NTA), Rama Rao said students should not be made to bear the consequences of administrative lapses. He argued that strict action against those responsible, including senior officials, was necessary to send a strong message of accountability within the system.

He opined that the removal of the Union Education Minister will act as a deterrent against recurrence of such leaks. He said recklessness will increase within the system, if punishment is absent.

“Your anger is just. But it should not deter you from pursuing your dream. Consider it as a speed-breaker and gear up for the next exam with renewed focus. Channel your energy to emerge victorious,” he said.

Students who attended the interaction questioned why they should be forced to retake the examination when the fault lies with the authorities concerned. Many of them expressed frustration that despite rigorous security checks at examination centres, the paper leak could not be prevented.

Referring to the controversy over grace marks and the sharp rise in cut-off scores witnessed in previous NEET examinations, the BRS working president stated that the NTA had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.

He said awarding marks through backdoor methods amounted to injustice to meritorious students. He assured them that the BRS would raise the issue in Parliament as well as the State Assembly and seek stringent legal action against those responsible.

On the question of whether a re-examination should be held only in affected States or across the country, Rama Rao felt that in an interconnected environment, even a limited leak could spread rapidly through coaching networks. Unless the extent of the breach was conclusively established, a nationwide re-examination could become unavoidable, he remarked.

The former Minister also stressed the need for technology-driven safeguards, including AI-based monitoring systems, to prevent future leaks. He called for stronger regulation of private medical college management quotas, asserting that merit should remain the primary criterion for admission.

Rama Rao urged students not to bottle up their emotions. Instead, he asked them to share their feelings with parents, teachers and friends to seek support.

“Whenever life throws such bouncers at you, you must learn to survive them and strike a balance in life,” he advised.