Delhi Police Detain 215 Ahead of NEET Leak Talks as CJP Presses for Pradhan's Exit
Updated
Updated · The Times of India · Jul 24
Delhi Police Detain 215 Ahead of NEET Leak Talks as CJP Presses for Pradhan's Exit
3 articles · Updated · The Times of India · Jul 24
Summary
215 people were taken into preventive custody in Delhi ahead of a CJP protest over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, with police citing intelligence that more demonstrators, including non-students from four states, were heading to Jantar Mantar.
The Centre agreed to meet CJP at the Constitution Club at 12:30 pm, with Jitendra Singh saying JP Nadda and he were ready for talks at a neutral venue and open to discussing all demands.
CJP said the protest would continue until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, calling his removal the toughest action against exam irregularities and reiterating demands including compensation for affected families and withdrawal of cases against protesters.
Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving written government assurances on the NEET issue and exam-system reforms, but his decision did not defuse the party's agitation in Delhi.
The standoff has prompted heavy security, a Delhi University advisory warning students to avoid Jantar Mantar, and wider scrutiny after another alleged exam leak forced Uttarakhand Technical University to cancel 2 BTech papers.
After 220 exam leaks and zero convictions, can promised reforms truly fix India's broken examination system?
As student suicides rise and protests face surveillance, what is the real cost of India's examination crisis?
NEET 2026 Scandal: Inside the Paper Leak, Youth Uprising, and the Push for Exam Reform in India
Overview
The NEET 2026 paper leak crisis exposed deep flaws in India’s examination system, as trusted insiders enabled a major breach that spread rapidly through Telegram networks. This scandal triggered nationwide protests, led by youth and activists like Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his 26-day hunger strike after the government promised no legal action against protesters and committed to addressing exam integrity. The crisis drew high-level attention, including from Prime Minister Modi, and forced the government to consider fast-track courts, new laws, and systemic reforms. The events highlighted the urgent need for accountability and lasting changes to restore public trust.