The Congress party has sharply criticized the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was called off due to allegations of paper leaks affecting nearly 22 lakh students in India. The National Testing Agency (NTA) cited investigative inputs as the reason for the cancellation and announced a comprehensive Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Congress leaders expressed that the cancellation undermines the hard work and sacrifices of students and their families, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of systematically weakening the examination system. They highlighted that over 89 examination papers have leaked in the last ten years under the Modi government, branding it as a hallmark of the current administration. Congress leaders, including Rajeev Shukla and Kamal Nath, demanded accountability and criticized the NTA's credibility. Meanwhile, the NTA defended its decision, stating that the cancellation was necessary to maintain trust in the examination process and assured that no additional fees would be required for a rescheduled exam.