Guest Column| NEET was never neat: Test of merit, federalism, restraint

NEET, a common medical entrance exam, centralises admissions but creates a single point of failure when compromised.

The 2024 NEET paper leak led to Supreme Court findings of breaches at Hazaribagh and Patna, though not enough evidence to cancel the entire test.

UGC-NET was cancelled in 2024 after official inputs indicated possible integrity compromise, and NEET-UG 2026 had to be conducted again.

Paper leaks transfer opportunity from diligent students to dishonest ones, undermining merit despite official rhetoric.

The controversy tests the Indian state's ability to protect merit, respect federalism, admit failure, and respond without treating students as a law-and-order problem.