The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged a protest on Thursday outside the residence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities and paper leak concerns linked to the NEET examination.
The protestors gathered in the national capital holding placards and raising slogans, accusing the government of failing to ensure transparency and fairness in national-level competitive examinations. The NSUI alleged that repeated incidents of question paper leaks and exam irregularities have eroded students’ trust in the system.
Security personnel were deployed outside the minister’s residence to prevent any law and order situation. Police later detained several protesters after they attempted to breach barricades set up in the area. The situation was brought under control within a short time, officials said.
NSUI leaders said the protest was part of a larger nationwide agitation demanding accountability and immediate corrective measures in the examination system. They called for a high-level judicial probe into alleged lapses and stricter anti-leak mechanisms to protect the interests of lakhs of medical aspirants.
The controversy around NEET has triggered widespread concern among students and parents across the country, with opposition parties also raising questions over the conduct of the examination process. They have demanded reforms in the testing and evaluation system to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The Union government, however, has previously maintained that strict actions are being taken against those involved in malpractice and that the examination process remains secure. Authorities have also pointed to ongoing investigations by central agencies into alleged paper leak networks.
Education experts say repeated allegations of leaks risk undermining the credibility of India’s competitive exam system, which is one of the largest in the world, with millions of candidates appearing every year.
The NSUI has announced that it will continue its protests in other parts of the country if its demands are not addressed. Meanwhile, authorities are monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation.
The incident adds to the growing political debate around exam reforms and student welfare, with pressure mounting on the government to restore confidence in the national testing framework.
