Academicians seek Education Minister's resignation over NEET 2026 row

New Delhi: With activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike entering day 21, a group of senior academicians, economists and social activists has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging him to resign and take responsibility for the alleged mismanagement of NEET UG 2026 and other examinations.

In the letter, the signatories expressed concern over the health of Wangchuk, who they said has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the last 20 days, demanding accountability from the government over the conduct of NEET and other examinations. They said he has also called for the Education Minister's resignation.

Today, Wangchuk has been removed from the protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital due to her deteriorating health condition. 

"Mr Sonam Wangchuck has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital for required health care. He is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration. Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters," the hospital told ANI.

Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for 21 days demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged nationwide examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak controversy.

The police said he was shifted to the hospital in compliance with the Delhi High Court's directions and on medical advice due to his deteriorating health. Delhi Police officials said he was under medical supervision and that maximum restraint was exercised during the situation.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Dipke announced that he would continue an indefinite hunger strike and said the movement would continue despite the action against Wangchuk.

Letter to Pradhan

According to the letter, Wangchuk has lost nearly 10 pounds during the fast and his health is deteriorating. 

"He has lost nearly ten pounds and his life, which is extremely precious for the country, is in danger. Many students are also on hunger strike. Their lives too are in danger," the letter signed by academicians said.

The signatories stated "If anything happens to them, then posterity will hold you squarely responsible for it, and deem your conduct to be utterly dishonourable for clinging to office by sacrificing precious lives. On the other hand it would be an honourable act if you resigned as education minister, owning moral responsibility for the government’s failures."

"You may believe that you are following your party’s and government’s directive by not resigning, but nobody in the ultimate analysis can evade moral responsibility for his own actions. We urge you to take the honourable course and resign your minister’s job, owning moral responsibility for the government’s failures, and save the lives of Wangchuk and the idealistic students who are also on hunger strike," they added as per Deccan Herald report. 

Also read- Cockroach Janta Party Launches Nationwide Protest Over NEET UG Paper Leak Controversy

The NEET UG 2026 exam was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency and was held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in pen-and-paper mode. Over 22.7 lakh aspirants appeared for the examination this year. It took place across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, covering over 5,400 centres.

However, on May 12, 2026, the NTA declared the examination held on May 3 cancelled and subsequently announced a re-examination on June 21, 2026.

This came in the backdrop of the probe by the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group, which reportedly found a “guess paper” containing more than 100 questions similar to those asked in the NEET UG examination. The question paper series under scrutiny has been described as a “guess paper” which reportedly contained around 410 questions. Out of these, nearly 120 questions are alleged to have appeared in the Biology and Chemistry sections of the examination.

In the aftermath of the exam cancellation, protests were held, with aspirants and members of the medical fraternity condemning NTA and the Education Ministry for the failure.

Due to the alleged controversy, the central government decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations. Based on the Centre's direction, the CBI registered an FIR in the case and so far arrested 13 people.