Protests held across Uttar Pradesh over NEET paper leak case and other examination irregularities

Multiple demonstrations took place across Uttar Pradesh on Thursday (July 23, 2026) over the NEET paper leak case and other examination irregularities as protestors clashed with the police at many locations including Lucknow and Prayagraj.

In Lucknow, Bhim Army activists staged a protest around Hazratganj and attempted to march towards the Governor’s official residence but were stopped by the police. The Bhim Army workers clashed with the police in the process and were detained. “We are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Police detained several students and party office bearers as the demonstration unfolded, the students of India and Uttar Pradesh are against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government which is anti-student to the core,” said Vikas Gautam, a Bhim Army worker.

In Prayagraj, students under the banner of Sanyukt Chhatra Manch organised a march leading to a minor clash with police personnel. Apart from the NEET paper leak case and other examination irregularities they demanded that the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission should re-determine the PET based cut off for the lower recruitment main examination conducted by UPSSSC. They urged the implementation of the ‘minimum cut-off, maximum opportunity’ principle to ensure fairness, which would allow around one lakh students to appear in the main examination.

“Irregularities in examination are taking place regularly in every competitive examination, a parallel network of frauds and paper leak mafias are being patronised by a section of powerful people, this parallel economy is over ₹50,000 crore, due to which meritorious students are being crushed. We demand forensic investigation about various examinations where allegations are being made of paper leak in Uttar Pradesh,” said Shyam Prasad, an aspirant, based in Prayagraj. 

Similarly, in Ghazipur, Varanasi, Ballia, Azamgarh, protests by a group of students were held, who demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and revamping the examination process. “The question is much deeper. What job opportunities are being created in the market across sectors? It is the responsibility of the government to create jobs, but the present government has totally failed in it. Underemployment or disguised employment is the reality of even youth who have jobs. Paper leak is another crisis faced by youths,” said Ravi Pandey, a first-year student B.A. student from Ghazipur, who participated in the protest. 

In Lucknow, the Congress party organised a detailed discussion on strengthening education and the rights of youth and students.