'Even diapers don’t leak, but NTA papers do': Khan Sir slams NEET UG 2026 cancellation | WATCH

Prominent educator Khan Sir has issued a scathing critique of the National Testing Agency (NTA) following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, characterising the recurring paper leaks as a reckless "game being played with the lives of millions of children."

The educator, during an interview with ANI, noted that the breach has shattered the confidence of students, particularly as it follows similar failures in 2024 and two years prior. He argued that previous investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to yield substantive results, which served only to embolden those responsible.

"Look, the NEET paper leak is a game being played with the lives of millions of children. Their confidence is being shattered," Khan Sir said. "A CBI inquiry was conducted, but nothing came of it, which only boosted the morale of the culprits. So, they did it again this time. This ruins the future of millions of children and destroys their confidence."

Institutional Failure and Systemic Inefficiency

Khan Sir highlighted the absurdity of the situation, noting that it was the students themselves, rather than any monitoring agency, who alerted the government to the leak. He suggested the NTA’s acronym should be redefined as the "Never Trustable Agency" and compared the institution’s security unfavourably to common household products.

"Even 10-rupee diapers and Pampers for babies don't leak, but their exam papers do. Their system is that pathetic," he remarked.

Expressing scepticism over a standard CBI probe, the educator warned that such investigations often drag on until the affected students would have otherwise completed their medical degrees. He proposed the appointment of a retired Supreme Court judge as an observer to oversee a time-bound and rigorous punishment process. He further appealed for the personal intervention of the Prime Minister to ensure the "harshest punishment" for the perpetrators.

The Psychological and Historical Toll

The educator warned of a historical pattern where testing agencies, in a display of "spite," create exceptionally difficult replacement exams following a leak. He cited the 1997 IIT JEE leak and the 2015 AIPMT (now NEET) incident as examples where "soul-crushing" and "depression-inducing" subsequent papers were drafted.

Khan Sir also spoke of the emotional devastation faced by high-achieving students. He recounted the story of a student who lost his mother in January and was motivated by the hope that clearing the exam would stabilise his home life.

"With what face do we go to him today? Today, he is asking us in our office, and we don't have the courage to stand before him and tell him the truth. He will be broken. Does the NTA understand this?"

Socioeconomic and Gender Impact

The critique extended to the NTA’s lack of empathy regarding the financial burdens of the poor. While the agency may waive registration fees for a re-examination, Khan Sir pointed out that many students take out loans to travel vast distances to testing centres.

Furthermore, he highlighted the disparate impact of these delays on female students. He noted that while male students might receive another opportunity to study, female students often face the immediate threat of being forced into marriage if their educational path is disrupted.

"For the NTA, it is just a paper leak; for someone else, it is their entire life. They cannot understand this suffering," he said.

Calls for Investigation into the Coaching Industry

Finally, Khan Sir called for a deep investigation into the commercialisation of the coaching industry, which he claimed has shifted from the traditional Indian ethos of Guru Dakshina to a multi-billion dollar business capable of manipulating toppers and leaking papers for profit. He urged that those who have turned education into a business be held strictly accountable to prevent the total destruction of the students' future.

With inputs from ANI