The National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a large-scale paper leak has sent shockwaves through the student community in Bihar. Aspirants across the state are grappling with anxiety, shock, and uncertainty about their future prospects.
Student Reactions
Rahul Kumar, an 18-year-old aspirant from Patna's Makhaniakuan area, expressed his despair. 'I studied 14 to 15 hours every day for the last two years. I sacrificed my sleep, health, and family time for this single exam. Now, after the leak, the paper has been cancelled. All my hard work feels wasted. We do not even know when the new exam will be held,' he said.
Another aspirant from Kankarbagh shared similar sentiments. 'The pressure was already very high. We heard rumours of a leak right after the exam. Now that it is officially cancelled, there is so much uncertainty. This waiting period is mentally exhausting. Besides, I have to revise everything again because after the exam I was relaxed and waiting for the result. I do not even know how much time we will get to prepare for the new exam,' he lamented.
Parental Concerns
A resident of SK Puri and father of an aspirant voiced his disappointment. 'Our children prepare with full dedication for this one chance. When some people leak the paper for money, the dreams of honest students are crushed,' he said.
Many students in Patna are now struggling with anxiety and stress. Coaching institutes have reported a sharp rise in the number of aspirants visiting centres, driven by fears over the difficulty level of the fresh examination and uncertainty regarding the new schedule.
Institute Responses
Anand Jaiswal, director of a coaching institute on Boring Road, commented on the situation. 'Over 1.5 lakh students from Bihar appeared in the exam. This repeated leak has caused huge distress among the students. The CBI inquiry is a welcome step, and we hope it will bring strong action. To prevent future leaks, the exam should be conducted in online mode as printed papers are more vulnerable. Students should not lose heart. Those who performed well must aim even higher,' he said.
Jaiswal assured students that the institute would provide free online and offline classes to all candidates preparing for the re-examination. 'They must continue to work with full dedication,' he added.
Criticism of the System
Teacher Guru Rahman, whose daughter also appeared in the examination, strongly criticised the NTA and the system. 'This is a complete betrayal of students and their families. The secret is now out: there are more paper setters active than candidates in every NEET exam. What happened in Rajasthan is not isolated; it happens everywhere. This is a total failure of the government and the system,' Guru said.
