NEET 2026 paper leak: Rajesh Kumar recalls family tragedy, student suicides

Actor Rajesh Kumar, known for his role in ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’, recounted the profound impact of the NEET 2026 paper leak and subsequent cancellation on his family and the broader student community. His personal account highlighted the distress and systemic issues faced by aspirants and their relatives following the voiding of the examination.

The NEET exam, originally held on May 3, 2026, was cancelled by the Indian government on May 12, 2026, due to widespread allegations of a paper leak. This decision, which affected nearly 2.3 million test-takers vying for less than 130,000 medical college spots, triggered a wave of frustration, financial hardship, and suicides among students.

Personal Impact and Systemic Frustration

Rajesh Kumar shared a personal tragedy linked to the NEET cancellation. His first cousin died while travelling to Vaishno Devi, just 13 days before the scheduled NEET re-examination on June 21, 2026. His niece, who had scored well in the initial exam, saw her re-examination result drop by 200 marks. Kumar stated, “There was a difference of 200 marks between her first result and the re-examination result. It had been only 13 days since her father’s death.” He expressed frustration with the lack of accountability within the system, noting that his niece lacked the time and support to prepare for another year.

Kumar also discussed the perceived pressure on public figures to avoid speaking against the system. He recalled a producer warning him that actors critical of the system could be denied work, with letters allegedly coming from ‘higher departments’ instructing against signing such individuals. Kumar views organisations like CJP as a voice for the 55% of India’s youth frustrated with the current system, stating, “CJP gave us that freedom of expression. Perhaps it was not just expressing its own views; it was also saying what I could not say.” He also speculated on the political future of actor-turned-politician Vijay, leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, suggesting he could be a future Prime Minister due to his age and vision aligning with the younger generation.

Student Suicides and Financial Burdens

The cancellation of the NEET 2026 exam and the announcement of a retest led to a reported 20 student suicides across the country. Among them was Pradeep Kumar, 21, who died by suicide after scoring over 650 marks in the initial exam. His father, Rajesh, had sold ancestral land and spent over 500,000 rupees ($5,250) on Pradeep’s coaching. Rajesh lamented, “My son … my doctor son … come back. Your books are calling you. What will I do with them now?” Pradeep’s uncle, Shrawan Kumar, questioned the integrity of the system, asking, “Can’t they protect one paper that decides the future of millions? How can money and privilege simply bypass years of hard work?”

Rema Begum, 20, also died by suicide after the retest announcement. Her father, Rajaul Islam, had invested heavily in her coaching for two years. Similarly, Jatin Kumar, 21, took his own life after his fifth attempt at NEET was cancelled. His father, Rajesh, expressed concern about the system’s limited opportunities, stating, “One exam cannot decide a young person’s entire future.” Pradeep Meghwal, 22, died by suicide on June 15, 2026, a week before the re-exam. His father, Rajesh Meghwal, had taken a loan of Rs 11 lakh, sold land, and spent nearly four years on his son’s coaching and living expenses. Ritik Mishra, 21, died by suicide a day after news of the leak surfaced, following his third attempt at the exam. R.M. Ayja, 19, who scored 88% in her Class XII exams, died on June 3, 2026, after attempting suicide, suggesting India adopt China’s system of isolating educators preparing question papers.

Allegations of Leaks and NTA Scrutiny

Allegations of paper leaks in 2026 intensified after approximately 120 questions circulated through Telegram in Rajasthan reportedly matched guess papers. Reports indicated that papers were allegedly sold for up to 5 million rupees ($52,400) in Sikar, a city that saw a disproportionately high success rate in the 2024 NEET-UG exam. The unlike anything before jump in perfect scores in the 2024 NEET-UG exam, with over 80 students securing 720 out of 720 marks compared to only seven from 2016 to 2024, had already raised concerns about examination integrity.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), in charge of conducting over 20 major central examinations annually, including four that involve over six million aspirants, has faced increasing scrutiny. As of August 2024, the NTA operated with a limited staff, comprising 22 employees on deputation, 38 contractual staff members, and 138 outsourced workers. Abhishek Singh, Director of NTA, acknowledged, “There are gaps in the system, and we are working to plug them.” The Ministry of Education had issued a statement in August 2024 regarding the situation. The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan was reported in the face of the youth-led movement against the NEET paper leak.

NEET Exam Statistics and NTA Staffing

The NEET exam, originally held on May 3, 2026, was voided by the Indian government on May 12, 2026, following allegations of a paper leak. This decision impacted nearly 2.3 million test-takers who competed for less than 130,000 medical college spots. The re-examination was later scheduled for June 21, 2026. In 2024, the NEET-UG exam saw over 80 students achieve a perfect score of 720 out of 720, a significant increase from the seven students who achieved this feat between 2016 and 2024, raising concerns about examination integrity.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), in charge of conducting over 20 major central examinations annually, including four that involve more than six million aspirants, has faced increasing scrutiny. As of August 2024, the NTA operated with a limited staff, comprising 22 employees on deputation, 38 contractual staff members, and 138 outsourced workers. Abhishek Singh, Director of NTA, acknowledged “gaps in the system” and stated that efforts were underway to address them. The Ministry of Education had issued a statement in August 2024 regarding the situation.

Further reading

• NEET UG 2027: Apply online by early March; exam May 2
• NEET UG 2027: Apply Feb-Mar, Exam May 2 (CBT)
• NEET application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• NEET PG 2026: Register for Round 2 by November 11; fill choices by November 12
• KCET registration 2027 to open tentatively in January, application fee details
• KEAM 2026: Apply for 84 MBBS, 106 BDS stray seats. CEE to announce dates Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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