SHILLONG, May 13: Refusing to let Meghalaya’s students become “collateral damage” for systemic failures elsewhere, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Wednesday demanded that the NTA exempt the Northeast from any nationwide NEET-UG re-examination, citing the region’s clean record and the crushing logistical hurdles for tribal candidates.
In a representation to the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), HYC education secretary Enlang Sawian urged the agency to reconsider any potential move toward a blanket cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
The demand follows reports of alleged paper leaks and irregularities in other parts of the country.
Sawian asserted that while the HYC supports strict action against malpractice, students from Meghalaya and the Northeast should not be penalised for corruption reported in other states.
He pointed out that there have been no credible reports of paper leaks or organised cheating at examination centres across the region. The council highlighted the significant financial and logistical strain a re-examination would place on local families. Many candidates from remote blocks and rural backgrounds must navigate difficult terrain and travel long distances to reach urban centres, incurring substantial costs for travel and accommodation.
“Re-conducting the examination would place an additional financial, logistical, and psychological burden on students and parents who have already spent substantial resources,” Sawian stated. He added that the uncertainty disproportionately affects tribal students who have limited access to coaching facilities and academic infrastructure.
The HYC has called on the NTA to adopt a region-specific approach by exempting candidates from Meghalaya and the Northeast in the absence of proven local irregularities, ensuring that the interests of students from underrepresented regions are protected.
