Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Tuesday said the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 following reports of a paper leak is a “severe blow to the sacred trust” students place in the country’s examination system.
Taking to social media platform X, Patnaik said the development reflects a serious breach of confidence in national-level competitive examinations and undermines the faith of millions of aspirants and their families.
He said that when the sanctity of examinations is compromised, it is not merely a lapse but a betrayal of lakhs of students who prepare with discipline, sacrifice comfort, and dedicate sleepless nights to their studies.
“This is not the first time NEET papers have been leaked. The leaks deepen cynicism, heighten anxiety, and jeopardize the careers of hardworking students who expect fairness,” he said in his post.
The former Odisha Chief Minister further said that as a nation, India cannot afford to “gamble with the destiny of its youth.” He called for urgent steps to restore integrity in the examination system and ensure swift accountability.
Patnaik also stressed that the system must ‘reassure’ every student that their hard work, sweat, and perseverance will not be undermined by such lapses again, and that trust in the examination process must be fully restored.
Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3 and announced that fresh dates for the re-examination will be notified later.
The decision comes amid allegations of a large-scale “question paper leak” that triggered nationwide concern and controversy. The government has also ordered a comprehensive Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities.
According to the NTA, the decision was taken “in the interest of students” and to maintain public confidence in the national examination system. Nearly 22.79 lakh candidates had appeared for the examination across India and abroad.
