Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday lashed out at the Union government’s decision to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination following the alleged leakage of question paper. He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students and sought the dismissal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In a statement to the media, the Chief Minister termed the cancellation of NEET examination an “administrative failure” on the part of the Modi government. He said the Centre had failed to protect the interests of talented students, and added that Mr. Pradhan should be held responsible for the paper leak and removed from the Union Cabinet.

More than 22 lakh students appeared for the examination across the country, including over one lakh candidates from Karnataka.

The Chief Minister said parents had incurred a large amount of expenses on coaching, travel and other arrangements for the future of their children, but the Centre's decision had pushed students into uncertainty and hardship.

Recalling the State government’s earlier opposition to NEET, Mr. Siddaramaiah said in 2024 Karnataka had argued that the examination would be unfair to rural and economically weaker students. He also said NEET curtailed the rights of States in conducting entrance examinations, adding that Karnataka’s Common Entrance Test (CET), conducted successfully for over a decade, had become a model for the rest of the country.

He noted that the State had passed a resolution in July 2024 opposing the Centre's decision to conduct NEET and demanded the restoration of states’ powers to hold such entrance examinations within the federal framework.

The Chief Minister called for a transparent and time-bound investigation into the question paper leak and sought strict action against those responsible.

Dress code

Mr. Siddaramaiah said the revised dress code has been implemented in schools and colleges across the State, in keeping with the constitutional principle of equal respect for all religions.

“This is not a dress code intended to please or hurt anyone, but a dress code that respects the practices and traditions of all castes and religions," he said.

“It is natural for those who are dividing the society on the basis of caste and religion to feel pain from this. Let them first look within themselves and do some introspection," the Chief Minister said, apparently referring to the opposition BJP.

When the sacred thread (janivara) was removed in one or two places and when Muslim girl students wore the hijab in one or two schools in Udupi, these BJP leaders tried to set the whole of Karnataka on fire with communal hatred. Can they not see the tears of students who are crying because of the cancellation of the NEET examination? he asked.

The dress code implemented in the State's educational institutions is in line with the dress code followed in Kendriya Vidyalayas under the control of the Union government. Those who oppose the dress code issued by the State government should also oppose the dress code of Kendriya Vidyalayas. Why this hypocrisy?

“If allowing the hijab amounts to appeasement of Muslims, does allowing the sacred thread, turban, or traditional headgear amount to appeasement of those respective religions?” the Chief Minister asked.