NEET-UG 2026 Retest Will Be Fair and Error-Free, Says Dharmendra Pradhan

New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday assured students and parents that the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21 will be conducted in a completely transparent and error-free manner.

Acknowledging the distress caused to nearly 22 lakh students after the cancellation of the exam, the minister said the government took the tough decision to protect the interests of deserving medical aspirants and ensure fairness in the examination process.

Speaking at an event, Dharmendra Pradhan said the government understood the pain and mental pressure faced by students due to the cancellation, but stressed that action was necessary to stop irregularities and the influence of the “examination mafia”.

He said the government was willing to face criticism and public anger if it meant safeguarding the credibility of the education system. According to him, turning a blind eye to wrongdoing would have been irresponsible.

The minister also appealed to students and parents to maintain faith in the system, the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Centre is fully committed to ensuring that the June 21 examination is conducted without any lapses.

During his address, the minister also spoke about the growing pressure of competitive exams and referred to incidents involving students facing extreme stress. He urged parents to rethink the excessive “coaching culture” and avoid placing unbearable expectations on children.

He said supporting students through guidance and tuition is acceptable, but turning them into “commodities” under intense pressure can severely affect their mental balance and well-being.

Dharmendra Pradhan also defended the introduction of on-screen marking by the Central Board of Secondary Education, saying the move is aimed at ensuring more scientific, uniform and transparent evaluation in board examinations.

He noted that disparities often exist between urban and rural students in assessment systems and said reforms are necessary to create a fairer academic environment.

The minister added that constructive criticism helps improve systems and said the government is committed to addressing flaws instead of hiding problems. He also called for collective efforts to tackle unfair practices in examinations and strengthen trust in the country’s education framework.

Referring to the National Education Policy 2020, he described it as a guiding framework for the future of Indian education and reiterated that competence matters more than just certificates.

With inputs from IANS