Refusing to let Meghalaya’s students become “collateral damage” for systemic failures elsewhere, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Wednesday demanded that the NTA exempt the Northeast from any nationwide NEET-UG re-examination, citing the region’s clean record and the crushing logistical hurdles for tribal candidates. In a representation to the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), HYC education secretary Enlang Sawian urged the agency to reconsider any potential move toward a blanket cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
The demand follows reports of alleged paper leaks and irregularities in other parts of the country. Sawian asserted that while the HYC supports strict action against malpractice, students from Meghalaya and the Northeast should not be penalized for corruption reported in other states.
He pointed out that there have been no credible reports of paper leaks or organized cheating at examination centers across the region. The council highlighted the significant financial and logistical strain a re-examination would place on local families.