NEET-UG cancelled: Super 30's Anand Kumar wants China-like crackdown after leak

Anand Kumar called for strict action against coaching centres after NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled over alleged irregularities. The decision has triggered a re-test and a CBI probe into the examination process.

In Short

• NEET-UG 2026 cancelled due to alleged irregularities; re-exam dates to be announced
• Kumar urges students to stay strong despite morale loss from exam controversies
• Government must ensure tougher rules and actions to prevent exam malpractices

Educator and Super 30 founder Anand Kumar on Tuesday called for tighter regulation of coaching centres and stronger safeguards for Indian examinations after the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled over an alleged paper leak, saying repeated controversies around competitive exams leave students demoralised. Kumar, a Padma Shri awardee who is known for running a JEE coaching programme for the underprivileged, also called for a China-like crackdown in the field of college admissions.

His comments followed the National Testing Agency deciding to scrap NEET-UG 2026 exactly nine days after the examination was conducted. The agency said fresh dates for the re-conducted examination would be announced separately. NEET-UG, the gateway for undergraduate medical admissions across India, was taken this year by nearly 22 lakh students.

Reacting to the cancellation, Kumar described the development as “very unfortunate” but urged students to stay strong. “This is a very unfortunate thing. Students lose morale every time something like this happens,” Kumar said during a phone interview with Aaj Tak TV.

At the same time, he said it was reassuring that the accused linked to the alleged malpractice had been identified and caught. “The good thing is that the accused have been caught. I would advise students to stay strong and remain optimistic that they have got another chance,” he said.

Motion Education founder Nitin Vijay also appealed to students and parents not to panic following the cancellation of the examination. “Please don’t panic, don’t be disheartened. Students and parents should calm down,” Vijay told India Today TV during a phone conversation.

CALLS FOR STRICTER OVERSIGHT OF COACHING CENTRES

Anand Kumar also urged the government to ensure tougher safeguards to prevent such incidents from recurring in future examinations. “The government should take strict action and ensure that this is not repeated,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of coaching centres being involved in the alleged irregularities, an angle under investigation by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), Kumar said tougher regulation of coaching institutes was necessary.

“It’s important to tighten the noose on coaching centres. There should be strict implementation of rules. The government must ensure tough measures like China,” he said.

Kumar was referring to the stringent anti-cheating and examination integrity measures adopted by Beijing in recent years for the gaokao, China’s highly competitive national college entrance examination.

HOW CHINA HAS TIGHTENED EXAM SECURITY

Some of the key measures implemented by China in recent years include:

• China launched its sweeping “Double Reduction” policy in 2021 under President Xi Jinping, imposing strict curbs on the private tutoring industry to reduce academic pressure on students and limit the commercialisation of education.
• Under the 2021 policy, authorities banned for-profit tutoring in core school subjects, restricted coaching classes during weekends and holidays, and tightened state oversight of the private coaching sector.
• Alongside the crackdown on coaching centres, measures introduced by China’s Ministry of Education include advanced anti-cheating technologies, stricter monitoring of examination centres, enhanced security protocols for handling question papers, and tighter oversight of the entire examination process from printing to administration.
• Authorities have also focused on preventing fraudulent admissions and so-called “stolen” college seats by increasing scrutiny during admissions and results processing.
• China has additionally expanded support for students from rural and economically weaker regions by increasing admission quotas in top universities and introducing reforms allowing students in some provinces greater flexibility in choosing subjects aligned with their strengths.

NTA ORDERS RE-TEST, CBI PROBE

In its statement earlier, the NTA said the examination was being cancelled on the basis of inputs examined in coordination with central agencies and findings shared by law enforcement authorities. The agency said the material before it showed that “the present examination process could not be allowed to stand."

The Centre has referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive enquiry into the allegations linked to the exam. The NTA said it would provide all records, materials and assistance required by the agency.

The NTA had earlier maintained that the May 3 examination was conducted under elaborate security arrangements, including GPS-tracked transportation of question papers carrying unique watermark identifiers and AI-assisted CCTV surveillance of examination centres from a central control room.

According to the agency, inputs regarding alleged malpractice were received on May 7 and escalated to central agencies the next day for independent verification and action.

ALLEGATIONS EXPLAINED

The cancellation followed allegations linked to so-called “guess papers” – compilations of predicted questions circulated by some coaching networks and intermediaries before the examination – which investigators suspect may have been connected to leaked or illegally accessed content in certain cases.

Authorities are currently probing whether organised networks, including individuals linked to coaching centres, played a role in circulating such material ahead of the exam.

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