SHILLONG, June 25: The cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination following a nationwide question paper leak has disrupted the dreams of over 22 lakh students across India, including 4,164 candidates in Meghalaya who had to rewrite the exam across 14 centres in the state on Sunday.
While the scandal has triggered intense national debate, the response in Meghalaya has been relatively muted, raising questions about whether the state is giving education the sustained public attention it deserves.
While education is repeatedly described as a top state priority, yet public discourse often remains limited outside exam seasons. Families invest heavily in their children’s future, students spend years preparing for competitive exams, and teachers work under difficult conditions.
When a national scandal affects thousands of local aspirants, it underscores the need for continuous engagement on issues like learning outcomes, digital access, teacher availability, and equitable quality education.
Most political parties and pressure groups that claim to represent the students have been silent on the recurring leaks raising questions on whether education and the future of the students are really being prioritised.
In a late reaction, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, describing the leak as “not an isolated incident but a symptom of deeper structural problems” in the country’s education system.
MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar alleged that the Centre has consistently failed to meet the National Education Policy (NEP) target of spending six per cent of GDP on education, with actual expenditure remaining significantly lower. He cited reductions in budget allocations for the Ministry of Education, higher education, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and key schemes such as PM POSHAN, PM SHRI, Samagra Shiksha, and PM-USHA.
The party highlighted severe teacher shortages, pointing to parliamentary data showing over 8.46 lakh teaching posts vacant nationwide, which it said has weakened education quality and learning outcomes. It also criticised the excessive centralisation of entrance examinations through the NTA, claiming it has led to accountability issues and undermined cooperative federalism.“Reduced spending on public education has forced students to depend on costly private coaching institutions, widening inequalities,” the Congress said, while expressing concern over the impact on economically weaker sections and the curtailment of scholarships for minority students.
The MPCC demanded a time-bound investigation into the paper leaks, full disclosure of the Radhakrishnan Committee’s recommendations, restructuring or replacement of the NTA, immediate filling of teaching vacancies, and a parliamentary debate on examination reforms. It also called for adequate support for affected students, noting the “uncertainty and psychological distress” caused by repeated disruptions.
