'Students Said Paper Leak Hurt Them Initially, Later They Performed Better': Nirmala Sitharaman

Last Updated:July 25, 2026, 07:52 IST

Appealing to the Opposition to participate in a comprehensive debate over paper leak, Sitharaman said the government was prepared to answer all questions.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday hit back at the Opposition over its protests on the paper leak issue, claiming that while the government acted swiftly to arrest those responsible and ensure re-examinations, several students had overcome the setback and performed even better.

Speaking amid the ongoing massive protests over alleged paper leaks, Sitharaman said the issue was deeply sensitive as it concerned the future of young aspirants and their families.

‘Students Took Advantage Of Paper Leak’

She said the Centre had responded promptly, with arrests already made and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing fast-track courts to ensure speedy punishment for those involved.

The minister said that some students took the paper leak as a challenge and came out with flying colours in the re-examination.

“Young people are now finding the institutions where they have to go for higher education. There are young people who are coming out and saying, ‘Yes, first it sort of hurt me when the paper leakages happened, but later I took advantage of that and prepared even more and my performance has improved and I’ve done well.’ So there are people who looked at it, even young people who have taken this challenge and faced this, and come out with flying colours," Sitharaman said.

Sitharaman Slams ‘Opposition’s Tirade’

She added that if the government had failed to act, criticism from the Opposition would have been understandable.

“A matter which relates to students, young people of this country, particularly about their preparation for exams, exam paper leakage and re-exam, these are very sensitive for that age of the children who are undergoing the preparation. If the government is not sensitive or not reacting, I can understand the opposition going on a tirade like this," she said.

“At the level of the Prime Minister, a response has been given. Even before today’s announcement of setting up fast-track courts, the government had arrested those who committed this crime. Those who leaked, bought and sold exam papers have all been arrested," the minister added.

Minister Hails Fast-Track Courts

Referring to the Prime Minister’s announcement, Sitharaman said the fast-track mechanism would reassure parents and students that those responsible for compromising the sanctity of examinations would be punished at the earliest.

The minister said that the government had arrested the culprits much before the announcement of the fast-track courts.

“In fact, much before today’s announcement of setting up fast-track courts and assuring the punishments will be handed over to those people who violated the sacredness of an exam by leaking the papers, by buying papers, by selling papers. Even earlier to this announcement, the government arrested those people who actually committed this crime," the minister said.

Sitharaman Calls Congress ‘Notorious’ For Disrupting House

Launching a sharp attack on the Congress, the finance minister accused the party of exploiting the issue for political gains instead of participating in a debate in Parliament.

She said the government had agreed to a discussion in the House but alleged that the Opposition was imposing fresh conditions and disrupting proceedings because it did not want the government’s actions to be highlighted.

“Using NEET, using young minds, young students, the Congress party is doing what they are notorious for — disruption of the House. They don’t want a fair discussion because when the truth comes out, it is they who are politicising a sensitive issue relating to the country’s youth," she said.

Appealing to the Opposition to participate in a comprehensive debate, Sitharaman said the government was prepared to answer all questions and discuss if further measures were needed, but accused the Congress of preferring disruption over solutions.

All About NEET Protests

The protests were sparked by allegations of widespread irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes, with thousands of students taking to the streets to demand greater accountability and reforms in the education system.

A key demand of the protesters has been the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.

The agitation intensified on July 20 when Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-backed protesters marching towards Parliament under the ‘Sansad Chalo’ call were stopped by Delhi Police.

The ensuing clashes saw police using lathis and tear gas to disperse the crowd, leaving several protesters and security personnel injured. Multiple FIRs were registered following the violence.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had joined the movement and was on a 26-day hunger strike, ended his fast in the early hours of Friday after holding talks with Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

In response to the protests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced strict action against those involved in paper leaks, including the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials.

The Centre has also initiated an overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET examination, with 47 officials reportedly removed from the agency, as per the sources. Ministers have held talks with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party as part of efforts to resolve the standoff.

With inputs from ANI

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Prisha Vibhavari

Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st...Read More

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