Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday sought to restore states’ powers to conduct medical entrance exams, arguing that the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam after question paper leak had exposed weaknesses in the central exam system.
In a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, Siddaramaiah said the Karnataka government has consistently opposed NEET on the grounds that it disadvantages rural and poor students, weakens the school education system and reduces the role of states in admissions.
“We opposed NEET in 2024 itself, stating that the exam was unfair to rural and poor students, weakened the school education system and took away powers of states in admissions,” Siddaramaiah said.
He added: “Today’s cancellation of the examination proved the sincerity and necessity of our concerns.”
The Prime Minister said that the state government insists that the powers to conduct these entrance tests should be returned to the states. He said: “We insist on the need to restore states’ powers to conduct these entrance exams.”
Siddaramaiah described the Centre’s decision to cancel the exam as “not just an administrative failure, but a cruel betrayal of the country’s youth.”
According to the statement, more than 22,000 students across the country, including more than 1,000 students from Karnataka, appeared for the exam after months of preparation. He said parents also spent huge sums of money on training, travel and expenses related to the examination process. “The Union government’s decision has thrown the entire student community into a state of uncertainty and distress,” he said.
The Prime Minister also linked the NEET controversy to repeated allegations of leaking of question papers in examinations at the national level. “From recruitment tests to national entrance exams, paper leaks have become evidence of the Narendra Modi government’s failure to protect the interests of meritorious students,” he said.
Siddaramaiah demanded a transparent and time-bound investigation into the paper leakage case and demanded strict punishment for those responsible. He also asked the Center to provide immediate clarification regarding the revised examination schedule.
The Prime Minister also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of failing to respond to concerns raised by students and parents. “He has shown absolutely no interest in the youth and should resign immediately,” Siddaramaiah said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa also criticized the National Testing Agency and called for its abolition.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Bangarappa questioned the working of NTA and said state governments usually prepare multiple contingency plans while conducting exams.
He said: “I am the Minister of Education. When we conduct exams, we prepare Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. What is the capacity of the National Testing Agency? Because of its failure, students are under tremendous pressure.”
“NTA should be abolished,” he added.
Bangarappa said the Center should consult state governments on NEET-related issues in the future. “At least in the future, the Center should hold discussions with state governments regarding NEET,” he said.
Describing the paper leak as a “huge tragedy”, Bangarappa said students had spent months preparing for the exam and should not be subjected to uncertainty due to administrative lapses. “The decision to conduct a re-examination is an arbitrary act,” he said.
He also accused the BJP-led Union government of failing to take responsibility for the recurring controversies surrounding the national examinations. “Since the formation of the National Testing Agency, the question papers have allegedly been leaked six times. The Prime Minister should take responsibility for the question paper leak,” Bangarappa said.
