Student demonstrators took to the streets of India’s capital on Tuesday following the government’s decision to void a critical medical school entrance examination after officials found evidence that test questions had been compromised.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, administered on May 3 to approximately 2.3 million aspiring medical students nationwide, was officially canceled by India’s federal National Testing Agency on Tuesday. Agency officials stated the examination’s integrity had been compromised and announced plans to schedule a replacement test.
Members of the National Students’ Union of India, affiliated with the opposition Congress party, gathered in New Delhi to voice their outrage over the situation. Video footage captured protesters shouting demands for justice, with some attempting to breach police barriers set up around the demonstration area.
Union President Vinod Jakhar called for the “strictest possible action” against individuals responsible for the security breach and demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down from his position. Jakhar stated the protesters had lost confidence in the current government’s ability to handle the situation properly.
This marks the second time in recent years that the medical entrance examination has faced similar security issues. In 2024, test questions were also compromised in certain regions of India, though officials chose not to invalidate and reschedule the exam at that time.
