Student protests erupt in India after cancellation of medical entrance exam Photo

Students in southern India staged a major protest on May 12 after the country’s National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled a nationwide medical entrance exam over allegations of a question paper leak and other irregularities.

Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) marched to the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General in Thiruvananthapuram, where the demonstration escalated after protesters broke through police barricades and entered the compound. Security forces used water cannons to disperse the crowd as tensions rose between police and demonstrators, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

A similar protest was also held in the capital, New Delhi, where students gathered with banners opposing the cancellation. Protesters chanted slogans condemning the alleged leak as police moved in to disperse the crowd.

The controversy follows the government’s decision to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 exam, originally held on May 3, and launch a criminal investigation into the allegations. The NTA said the decision was taken after concerns were raised by law enforcement agencies about the fairness of the examination. It added that candidates will not need to re-register or pay additional fees for the rescheduled test, and their existing details will remain valid.

NSUI President Vinod Jakhar demanded harsher penalties for those involved in the leak and called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, expressing a lack of confidence in the government’s actions.

Similar cases of NEET exam material leaks were also reported in 2024, but the exam was not canceled at that time.

By Sabina Mammadli