A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on why chasing ROI from education often disappoints us. Education and learning are not direct value creators; they are enablers. They equip us to contribute meaningfully to society, to solve problems, to serve, and to grow as individuals. But the moment we reduce them to a transaction—pay fees, crack an exam, secure a seat, land a job, recover the investment—we strip them of their soul.
This truth hit home harder than I expected when the NEET-UG 2026 saga unfolded.
My son has always been remarkably carefree. He rarely lets difficulties rattle him. Challenges, no matter how steep, seem to bounce off his resilient spirit. He approaches life with a quiet optimism and a deep love for India’s potential. He often talks passionately about the country’s growth story—its strides in technology, economy, and global standing. His dream? To become a veterinary physician and serve the nation by caring for its animals, supporting farmers, and contributing to rural economies.
So, when news of the alleged NEET paper leak began circulating and the exam conducted on May 3, 2026, was eventually cancelled, his reaction took me aback. For the first time in a long while, I saw raw frustration in his eyes. He expressed what many young Indians feel but few voice so candidly: “Why was I born in a country where corruption is so rampant?”
That statement pierced me. Here was a boy who believes in India’s rise, now questioning the very system that should nurture his aspirations. It wasn’t just disappointment over a delayed exam. It was a deeper disillusionment with a process that rewards the unscrupulous while punishing sincerity.
The Incident That Shook Lakhs
For context, over 22 lakh students appeared for NEET-UG 2026 on May 3 across hundreds of centres. The National Testing Agency (NTA) later cancelled the exam following credible allegations of a paper leak. Reports indicated that “guess papers” circulated on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram days before the exam, with significant overlaps to the actual questions. The CBI stepped in, arrests followed across states including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Haryana, and a re-examination was scheduled for June 21.
This isn’t the first controversy—memories of 2024 are still fresh—but its scale and timing have left millions disheartened. Students who sacrificed two years of their youth, endured gruelling coaching schedules, and managed family expectations now face another round of uncertainty. Some will muster the courage to reappear. Others, drained financially and emotionally, may abandon their medical dreams entirely. Protests erupted in several cities. Reports even mention student distress leading to tragic outcomes.
For sincere aspirants like my son, who prepared honestly with the goal of service rather than just a high-paying career, this feels like a betrayal of the system they trusted.
The Transactional Trap
At its core, the leak is not merely a failure of security or governance. It is the inevitable outcome of treating education as a high-stakes financial instrument.
We have collectively turned higher education—especially professional courses like medicine—into a calculated investment. Parents invest lakhs (sometimes crores) in coaching institutes, tuitions, relocation, and materials. Students borrow heavily through education loans. The expected return? A coveted seat in a government or reputed private college, followed by a stable, high-earning career that repays the “capital” with handsome interest.
In this mindset:
- The exam ceases to be a test of aptitude or passion. It becomes a gateway that must be breached at any cost.
- A medical seat is no longer about becoming a healer or, in my son’s case, a veterinary doctor serving livestock and communities. It is about ROI.
- When the stakes are existential—family honour, financial recovery, social status—some cross ethical lines. Networks emerge that promise “guaranteed” success for millions paid upfront. The leak becomes a rational (if immoral) market response to extreme demand and limited supply.
This transactional lens distorts the entire ecosystem. Coaching factories thrive on fear and promises of ranks. Students memorise patterns instead of building deep understanding. Parents push children into streams mismatched with their interests because “doctor or engineer equals security.” And when the system fails to deliver fairness, trust evaporates.
My earlier post highlighted this: education loses its purpose when attached solely to jobs or promotions. It should enable value creation—innovation, empathy, problem-solving. Instead, it has become a transaction where the “product” is a degree, and the customer demands guaranteed returns.
The Human and National Cost
The personal toll is immense. My son’s frustration is a microcosm of a larger generational angst. He is not cynical by nature. He advocates for India’s progress and envisions contributing through veterinary science—addressing issues like animal husbandry, food security, and rural development. Yet, a single leak forces him to question the fairness of the playing field.
Imagine lakhs of such young minds. Some will pivot successfully. Others may carry scars of disillusionment. When bright, idealistic students begin wondering about the prevalence of corruption, we risk losing the very talent that could build the India of tomorrow.
Broader costs include eroded public trust in national institutions like the NTA, repeated cycles of litigation and delay, and opportunity loss for genuine merit. Economically, it perpetuates inequality: those with connections or deep pockets find ways around the system, while the sincere middle-class bears the brunt.
This also reflects a deeper societal failure. We celebrate “ toppers” and IIT/IIM/medical seats as ultimate success markers, but undervalue alternative paths—skilled vocations, entrepreneurship, research, or public service in non-glamorous fields. Veterinary medicine itself is a noble, high-impact profession often overshadowed by human medicine in prestige.
A Personal Reflection as a Father
Watching my son grapple with this has been sobering. His usual unflappable nature cracked under the weight of systemic betrayal. As a parent, I feel the urge to shield him, yet I also see this as a teaching moment. Corruption exists not just because of “bad actors” but because incentives are misaligned. When education is commodified, shortcuts become inevitable.
I reminded him that his dream—to serve as a veterinary physician—is bigger than one exam. India needs passionate professionals in animal care, agriculture, and sustainability. His advocacy for national growth is admirable and should fuel resilience, not despair. But I also acknowledged his pain. Feeling frustrated is valid when hard work seems undermined.
The Way Forward: Reclaiming Education’s Purpose
Fixing leaks requires better technology—computer-based testing, robust encryption, decentralised evaluation—and swift justice, as promised with the re-exam safeguards and future reforms. But these are symptoms.
We need cultural and structural shifts:
- Redefine success narratives. Highlight diverse careers and stories of people who succeeded through skill, perseverance, and contribution rather than elite degrees.
- Ease the pressure. Increase quality seats in medical and veterinary education, strengthen school-level foundations so coaching becomes supplementary, not survival.
- Promote intrinsic motivation. Parents and educators must emphasise learning for growth and service. Celebrate curiosity and character alongside ranks.
- Strengthen alternatives. Vocational training, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship ecosystems can provide viable paths to financial stability without the single-exam funnel.
- Address root incentives. Regulate coaching industries, reform loan policies to reduce desperation, and foster integrity through moral education.
As a nation aspiring for Viksit Bharat, we cannot afford to disillusion our youth. India’s growth story needs honest, capable contributors in every field—including veterinary sciences that support our vast agrarian economy.
A Call to Young Aspirants and Parents
To students like my son: Your frustration is understandable, but do not let it dim your purpose. The country needs your idealism more than ever. Prepare diligently for the re-exam, but remember your “why”—service over status. True value creation happens beyond the rank list.
To fellow parents: Let us stop treating education as a transaction. Support our children’s passions. Teach them that setbacks test character and that contribution to society is the ultimate return.
The NEET controversy is painful, but it offers a mirror. If we look honestly, we can move from transactional despair to transformative hope.
As a parent in Bengaluru navigating this with my son, I write this with hope that our collective reflection leads to better systems and stronger youth.
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