Gaurav Gogoi Questions Centre's Accountability Over NEET Controversy

Assam Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday criticised the Centre over the ongoing controversy surrounding NEET, alleging that the government has failed to adequately address concerns raised by students and their families regarding examination irregularities.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Gogoi said the opposition would continue to press the government on issues related to the integrity of competitive examinations, particularly the allegations surrounding the NEET examination process. He argued that accountability and transparency are essential in matters that directly affect the future of millions of students.

"The government must answer legitimate questions raised by students and parents. In a democracy, accountability cannot be optional," Gogoi said.

The Congress leader claimed that the concerns surrounding NEET reflect deeper problems within India's examination and recruitment systems. According to him, repeated controversies involving major competitive examinations have eroded public trust in institutions responsible for conducting them.

His remarks come amid continuing political debate over alleged irregularities in NEET-UG 2026. Opposition leaders have questioned the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), while several investigations and parliamentary discussions have focused on the handling of the examination process. Recent reports indicate that agencies are examining allegations linked to the circulation of so-called "guess papers" and possible breaches in exam security.

Gogoi also linked the issue to broader concerns affecting young people, including recruitment examinations, employment opportunities and educational access. He said students deserve timely responses and credible action whenever questions arise about the fairness of examinations.

Referring to concerns raised over institutions such as the UPSC and CBSE, the Congress MP alleged that authorities have often been slow to address doubts raised by candidates and stakeholders. He stressed that restoring confidence in public examination systems would require greater institutional transparency and stronger accountability mechanisms.

The Centre and the NTA have maintained that steps are being taken to strengthen examination security and safeguard the integrity of future tests. Government officials have also announced reforms, including enhanced monitoring measures and changes to examination procedures following the NEET controversy.

Reiterating the Congress party's position, Gogoi said the opposition would continue raising issues related to examination integrity, recruitment processes and governance, while urging the government to engage with students' concerns in a transparent manner.