ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Wednesday strongly condemned the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, terming it a “systemic betrayal” of lakhs of medical aspirants across the country.
In a press release, AAPSU demanded immediate accountability, structural reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA), and expansion of examination centres across Arunachal Pradesh.
AAPSU President Meje Taku said, “The NEET-UG examination is the sole entrance gateway for medical and dental undergraduate courses in India. Compromise of such an examination strikes at the very foundation of meritocracy and public trust in national institutions.”
The NTA cancelled the examination conducted on May 3 following allegations that a document containing around 410 questions had circulated on WhatsApp groups weeks before the examination. Reports also alleged that nearly 120 Chemistry questions matched the actual question paper. The cancellation has affected over 22.79 lakh registered candidates nationwide.
The union stated that the recurrence of the controversy, following a similar incident in 2024, indicated “deep structural flaws” in the examination system rather than an isolated lapse.
AAPSU demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry into the case be completed within a publicly declared time frame and called for strict action against all individuals, syndicates, coaching centres and institutional insiders found involved.
Taku further urged the Union Education Ministry to place a comprehensive reform roadmap for the NTA, including independent operational audits, stronger digital and physical security mechanisms for question paper handling, and mandatory third-party verification of examination processes.
On the issue of re-examination, Taku said, “Conducting another examination without first implementing structural reforms would only repeat the same flawed process.”
The union also sought financial reimbursement for candidates who had travelled to examination centres for the cancelled test, particularly students from Arunachal Pradesh who often face difficult and expensive journeys due to the state’s challenging terrain and limited transport connectivity.
AAPSU pointed out that only four examination centres — Itanagar/Naharlagun, Basar, Namsai and Pasighat — were allotted in Arunachal Pradesh for NEET-UG 2026, forcing students from remote districts such as Tawang, Anjaw, Dibang Valley, Longding and Tirap to travel long distances.
The union demanded that the NTA immediately establish additional examination centres in major district headquarters including Bomdila, Tawang, Tezu, Ziro, Aalo, Changlang, Deomali and Roing.
“The youth of Arunachal Pradesh ask for nothing beyond what every aspirant in this country deserves — a fair examination, a credible process, and an examination centre they can reach without sacrificing their health, savings, or livelihood,” the release stated.
AAPSU affirmed that it would continue to pursue the matter with the Ministry of Education and mobilise student opinion until its demands are addressed.
