NEET Row Escalates as Congress, Student Groups Demand Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation

Pressure mounted on the Centre over the ongoing controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026 and alleged examination irregularities, with opposition leaders and student activists demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and greater accountability from the government.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused the BJP-led government of failing the " test of accountability " by retaining Pradhan despite repeated allegations of paper leaks and examination-related irregularities. He also criticised the government's decision to temporarily restrict access to the Telegram messaging platform ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21 .

Kharge alleged that recurring paper leak incidents had eroded confidence in the country's examination system and affected millions of students. He questioned the government's handling of major examinations, including NEET, SSC, UGC-NET and CUET , and raised concerns over the CBSE on-screen marking controversy and allegations surrounding the UPSC examination process.

Echoing similar concerns, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not directly engaging with students affected by the NEET controversy. Speaking ahead of a nationwide protest seeking Pradhan's resignation, Dipke said citizens should not have to enter electoral politics to demand accountability and reforms.

He urged the prime minister to interact with students and address their concerns, arguing that such engagement would help policymakers better understand the challenges faced by aspirants. Dipke also expressed concern over reports of student suicides linked to examination-related stress and uncertainty .

Both the Congress and student groups have sought stronger action to restore trust in the examination system , with demands ranging from greater transparency and stricter anti-paper leak measures to ministerial accountability.

The Congress is set to intensify its outreach on the issue, with senior leader Rahul Gandhi scheduled to address student conventions across the country beginning June 17 from Kota, Rajasthan , as part of a campaign focused on examination integrity and opportunities for young people .