New Delhi, July 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s long-standing problem of examination paper leaks has once again come under the spotlight following the recent agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak, raising questions about why sustained public protests were required before governments responded decisively.
The opinion piece argues that while the protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar carried political overtones, it also highlighted a systemic issue that has affected the country’s examination system for decades. It notes that paper leaks and examination irregularities have repeatedly resulted in cancelled tests and re-examinations, undermining public confidence in recruitment and admission processes.
According to the commentary, the National Policy on Education, introduced in 1986, had recognised examination malpractices as a serious concern. However, despite successive governments at the Centre, a dedicated legal framework to tackle organised paper-leak rackets did not emerge until the enactment of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
The article contends that even after the law came into force, incidents such as the alleged 2026 NEET paper leak demonstrate that the challenge remains unresolved.
It also examines the political responses to the controversy, discussing the roles of various parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the BJP and the Samajwadi Party. The commentary refers to allegations and past controversies related to examination irregularities in different states while arguing that no political formation has been entirely free from criticism on the issue.
The analysis concludes that the broader lesson from the recent protests is the need for governments to address systemic public concerns before they escalate into street agitations. It argues that institutions should respond proactively to issues affecting students rather than waiting for widespread public unrest.
FOLLOW NOW
