Madan Dilawar has sparked controversy after downplaying the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination amid allegations of a massive nationwide paper leak racket.
Speaking to reporters in Jodhpur, the Rajasthan education minister said the cancellation of the medical entrance examination was “not a big deal” if irregularities had been detected.
“The investigating agencies must have found irregularities, so cancelling it is not a big issue. Wherever wrongdoing is found, the government will work to fix it,” Dilawar said.
His remarks triggered criticism from opposition parties and students, many of whom expressed anger after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the exam following reports of a widespread paper leak.
Massive Leak Probe Underway
The Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) has now taken over the probe into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, which investigators believe involved a multi-state network operating across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana and other states.
According to preliminary findings, the leaked paper was allegedly handwritten, scanned into PDFs and circulated to candidates for amounts ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.
Investigators say nearly 135 questions from the actual NEET paper matched leaked “guess papers” circulated before the exam.
Opposition Targets BJP
The controversy has also taken a political turn after photos surfaced showing some of the accused with BJP leaders, including Dilawar himself.
The Congress accused the Rajasthan government of delaying action because of alleged political links between the accused and ruling party leaders.
Dilawar, however, denied any protection for those involved and said the guilty would not be spared “whether the connection is with Sikar, West Bengal or Kashmir.”
Students Left In Limbo
The cancellation has affected more than 22 lakh NEET aspirants across India, many of whom had spent years preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance exam.
The NTA cancelled the examination after investigators uncovered evidence of large-scale malpractice and organised paper distribution networks.
The agency is expected to announce a fresh examination schedule after consultations with the Education Ministry and investigating agencies.
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