Congress Protests Outside The Parliament Over NEET Leak
Will Parliament turn the exam row into a formal test for the government?
Overview
The leak controversy has become a wider test of trust in India’s exam system and of the government’s handling of a high-stakes failure. What began as allegations over leaked questions quickly drew in students, opposition parties and protest groups, turning the issue into a political fight over , and the ’s role in protecting one of the country’s most important entrance exams.
Timeline
Congress leads major protest in Delhi
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge led a protest on July 22 over the . The demonstration added full-scale national-party pressure to the and kept the in the foreground. It marked the latest and strongest escalation in the campaign against the government.
Government signals readiness for Parliament discussion
Reports said the government was prepared to discuss the NEET issue in Parliament after the latest protest wave. The signal came as the dispute was already heating up inside the House through and repeated demands for a . It suggested the was under pressure to shift the fight from the into the legislature.
Students march to Parliament
On July 20, thousands of students and supporters tried to march towards in a major "" protest. Police stopped the procession, and and followed in central Delhi. Reports said the protesters were again demanding action over the leak and the of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Opposition parties widen the campaign
As the protests continued, and other opposition voices increasingly backed the . They portrayed the NEET row as a youth issue and an example of , not just an isolated test irregularity. The controversy was now functioning as a broader .
Delhi Police action escalates tensions
Police action against protesters in Delhi intensified the dispute, with reports of and clashes during demonstrations. The use of force and the blocking of marches hardened the political tone of the protests. It also gave a to add to the exam leak allegations.
Demands grow for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
Opposition leaders and student groups increasingly demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. The resignation demand framed the leak as a , not just an exam administration problem. That push helped transform the controversy into a direct challenge to the .
Opposition demands accountability in Parliament
Opposition MPs began filing notices and seeking discussion on the leak and the handling of the controversy. The move showed the issue entering as a for the government. It also set up a broader political fight over and .
Jantar Mantar becomes a protest hub
Protest activity continued at , where students and activists held and over several days. The site became the main public stage for demands for , , and punishment for those linked to the leak. Continued presence there showed the issue was becoming sustained rather than symbolic.
CJP joins the agitation
The protests broadened as the joined around the NEET controversy. Demonstrators pressed for over the leak and for protection of after the exam disruption. This widened the movement beyond one-off campus anger into an organised pressure campaign.
Students begin protesting in Delhi
Student anger surfaced in Delhi soon after the cancellation, with demonstrations outside over the alleged leak. Protesters demanded , , and action against those responsible for the . The early street protests turned the NEET issue into a visible national controversy.
Matter is referred to the CBI
Alongside the cancellation, the government referred the case to the for a . Reports said the inquiry was moved into hands after inputs from law enforcement and central agencies. This shifted the controversy from an exam dispute into a .
NTA cancels the exam and orders a fresh test
The cancelled NEET-UG after finding that questions similar to those in the exam had circulated before the test. It said the decision was taken with and that the paper could not be allowed to stand. The agency also said the exam would be later without fresh registration fees.
NEET-UG is held amid leak allegations
was conducted on May 3, but allegations quickly emerged that questions had circulated before the test. Reports said the controversy centered on a handwritten or "" version that appeared to match large parts of the actual exam. The claims set off the wider crisis that later drew in students, , and investigators.