NEET-UG 2026: Educationists seek stringent punishment to guilty in paper leak case

LATUR: A conference held in Maharashtra's Latur passed a resolution demanding stringent punishment for those found guilty in the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case after due investigation. On May 12, the NTA cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the allegations, has arrested 13 accused persons. Educationists and experts held a round table conference in Latur on Tuesday, where they strongly advocated the implementation of the NCERT syllabus for state board students and called for a restructuring of the existing curriculum.

The round table conference was organised by Rashtra Seva Dal. The participants emphasized that post-NEET medical admission rules should be made more student-centric, arguing that the current framework largely benefits private medical colleges.

Maharashtra state president of Rashtra Seva Dal, Ajit Shinde, outlined the organisation's stand on educational reforms. The conference was chaired by noted educationist Dr Somnath Rode.

Also read Same Exam, Old Nightmare: NEET 2026 cancelled, paper-leak probe, NTA reform, re-neet – the story so far

NEET UG 2026 re-exam

Speaking on the NEET examination system, Dr Ajay Jadhav said the rise of coaching institutes began when many colleges struggled to adapt to competitive entrance examinations.

He noted that the absence of trained faculty for such examinations led institutions to recruit experts from states such as Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, resulting in intense competition among coaching centres and diminishing the significance of Class XII education.

"The real need today is decentralisation. The NCERT syllabus should be adopted by state boards," he said. Educationist Hemant Varudkar expressed concern over the declining credibility of the board examination pattern, while Principal Siddheshwar Bellale stressed the need for a uniform examination system.

The participants demanded stringent punishment to those found guilty in the NEET-UG paper leak case and a resolution was passed to this effect. The deliberations and recommendations emerging from the conference will be compiled into a memorandum and submitted to the government, with Rashtra Seva Dal expected to pursue the matter further.