On Thursday, students from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) and Lucknow University (LU) protested against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, which they claim is part of a larger examination scam crisis in India. Led by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) at BBAU, demonstrators burned an effigy of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing the National Testing Agency (NTA) of being a 'corrupt body' and demanding its immediate dissolution. The protests were marked by slogans such as 'Scrap NTA' and 'Stop Paper Leaks'. Activists expressed concern over the mental health of over 2.2 million aspirants affected by these scams, emphasizing that repeated failures lead to hopelessness and potential suicides. Various organizations, including the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the National Students Youth Federation (NSYF), joined the protests at LU, where they submitted a memorandum to the President of India. They criticized the government's failure to provide a fair examination system and highlighted the negative impact of privatization on marginalized students. The protests reflect a growing frustration among youth regarding examination integrity and employment opportunities.