Editorial

The cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination following a major paper leak has once again exposed deep cracks in India’s premier medical entrance system. Conducted on May 3, 2026, for over 22 lakh aspirants, the exam was scrapped by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after investigators found alarming overlaps between “guess papers” circulated in coaching hubs like Sikar, Rajasthan, and the actual question paper. The CBI’s swift intervention has led to multiple arrests, including NTA insiders and coaching mafia figures, yet the damage to students’ lives and public faith in the system remains profound.

This is not an isolated failure. The recurrence of leaks—echoing the 2024 controversy—highlights chronic vulnerabilities: insider access to question papers, sophisticated networks involving paper-setters, intermediaries, and coaching centres, and the commodification of education. Accused individuals allegedly sold papers for lakhs of rupees through WhatsApp groups, turning a high-stakes exam into a marketplace for the privileged. For millions of students from modest backgrounds who sacrificed years of preparation, this represents not just academic disruption but a shattering of dreams and, in tragic cases, mental health crises.

Political reactions have been sharp. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have mounted sustained protests, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They argue that repeated lapses under the current regime point to ministerial accountability and systemic negligence. While opposition criticism keeps pressure on the government, the core issue transcends politics. The CBI probe must be thorough, transparent, and free from political interference. Arrests alone are insufficient; the network’s roots, including possible collusion within NTA, need complete uprooting.

The government’s announcement of a re-exam on June 21 offers a partial remedy, but it burdens sincere students with additional stress, travel, and uncertainty. Long-term solutions are urgent: transitioning fully to computer-based tests with robust encryption, AI-driven question generation, stricter vetting of paper-setters, and severe deterrence under the Public Examinations Act. Coaching centres must face regulation to prevent them from becoming leak epicentres.

Ultimately, NEET symbolizes the aspiration of India’s youth for a fair shot at a medical career based on merit, not money or connections. Restoring its sanctity demands more than probes and re-exams—it requires political will to prioritise institutional integrity over optics. Students deserve a system that rewards hard work, not one that repeatedly fails them. Only decisive reforms can prevent the next scandal and rebuild eroded trust.

In a notable speech at the Jerusalem Unity Prize ceremony, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a sharp rebuke against the escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Describing it as “brutishness” carried out by an “anarchist mob,” Herzog stated that these acts “defile and violate every basic moral, legal, and Jewish norm.” His strong words come amid a documented surge in settler attacks on Palestinian communities, highlighting a troubling internal challenge for Israel at a time of regional instability.

Herzog’s condemnation is significant not only for its language but for its timing. As a ceremonial head of state, the president rarely wades into such contentious domestic issues with this level of force. Reports indicate that settler violence has intensified in 2026, with the United Nations recording hundreds of incidents involving assaults, property destruction, and displacement. In the first few months of the year alone, settler-related actions displaced more Palestinians than in all of 2025. Attacks often involve masked groups torching homes, uprooting olive groves, and intimidating families—acts that undermine Israel’s security efforts and moral standing.

The president rightly pointed out that such violence harms Israel’s broader interests. It fuels international criticism, strains relations with diaspora Jewish communities, and provides ammunition to Israel’s adversaries. Herzog has previously linked these incidents to rising global antisemitism, arguing that harming innocents plays into the hands of those who seek to delegitimize the Jewish state. His call for law enforcement and security forces to act decisively reflects a growing recognition that impunity for extremists weakens the rule of law.

However, words alone are insufficient. Far-right elements in the government, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have pushed back against such criticism, with some accusing Herzog of unfairly targeting settlers. This political friction reveals deeper divisions within Israeli society. While the vast majority of settlers live peacefully, a fringe minority engages in “price tag” attacks and vigilantism that successive governments have failed to curb effectively. Data from human rights organizations and the UN consistently show low prosecution rates for settler violence, fostering a culture of permissiveness.

From a security perspective, these attacks complicate Israel’s legitimate fight against terrorism. They alienate moderate Palestinians, radicalize others, and divert military resources. True unity, which the Jerusalem prize seeks to celebrate, cannot coexist with lawlessness in the territories. Herzog’s intervention should serve as a catalyst for stronger action: rigorous investigations, prosecutions, and policy measures to separate extremism from legitimate settlement activity. Israel’s strength lies in its democratic values and ethical traditions. Allowing a minority to erode these through brutality risks long-term strategic and moral damage. The path forward demands not only condemnation but concrete enforcement of the law to protect both Israeli security and its foundational principles.

• SAS Kirmani