The All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest in front of the Tahsildar’s office in Hosapete on Thursday demanding the abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET question paper leak controversy.

The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor through the Tahsildar. The memorandum was received by Shirastedar Naveen.

Addressing the gathering at the agitation site, AIDSO Vijayanagara district president Ravikiran J.P. said that nearly 23 lakh students aspiring for medical education have been adversely affected by irregularities in the conduct of the NEET examination.

He said that allegations regarding the circulation of the question paper on social media platforms had surfaced even before the examination was held raising serious concern about the credibility of the testing process.

Questioning the security mechanisms said to be in place for conducting national-level examinations, he demanded a thorough investigation of the alleged leak and stringent action against all those found responsible.

He further urged students across the country to unite against what he described as the commercialisation and corporatisation of education. He said that the NTA has repeatedly failed to conduct examinations in a transparent and reliable manner and called for its immediate abolition.

Presiding over the protest, AIDSO district secretary U. Umadevi said that many students and their families spend between ₹80,000 and ₹3 lakh annually on coaching for competitive examinations such as NEET.

She expressed concern over the uncertainty faced by students who have spent several years preparing for the examination and criticised policies that, according to her, undermine public education.

The organisation demanded the immediate abolition of the NTA, exemplary punishment for those involved in the examination irregularities and the resignation of the Union Education Minister on moral grounds.

AIDSO leaders Prakash Nayak, Srinivas, Ramya, Sneha and several students participated in the protest.