Shillong, May 14: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has written to the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking reconsideration of the decision to cancel NEET UG 2026 examination and exemption and relaxation for candidates from Meghalaya and North Eastern Region.
The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) expresses its deep concern and disappointment over the decision to cancel the NEET UG 2026 examination across the country following reports of alleged irregularities and paper leaks in certain regions.
While we fully support strict action against any malpractice or compromise of the integrity of national examinations, we respectfully submit that a blanket cancellation of the examination has caused immense hardship, uncertainty, mental distress and financial burden upon thousands of genuine students from Meghalaya and the North Eastern Region who appeared for the examination fairly and honestly.
In this regard, the HYC humbly places the following facts and considerations before the National Testing Agency for immediate reconsideration, Meghalaya is geographically remote and economically disadvantaged compared to many mainland regions of the country. Students from the State often travel long distances under difficult terrain and incur significant expenses merely to access examination centres and educational opportunities.
A large number of students from Meghalaya belong to economically weaker families, rural backgrounds and indigenous tribal communities. For many of them, NEET represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue medical education and uplift their families and communities.
There have been no credible reports, complaints or findings indicating leakage of question papers, organised malpractice or examination compromise in Meghalaya and North Eastern Region examination centres.
Students from Meghalaya and North Eastern Region should not be made to suffer for alleged irregularities occurring elsewhere in the country when there is no evidence suggesting any compromise of the examination process within the State.
Re-conducting the examination would impose severe financial, logistical and psychological hardship upon students and parents from Meghalaya, many of whom had already exhausted substantial resources for travel, accommodation, coaching and examination preparation.
The uncertainty created by cancellation disproportionately affects students from remote and underrepresented regions like Meghalaya where access to coaching facilities, digital resources and academic infrastructure is already limited.
In view of the above, the Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council most respectfully urges the National Testing Agency to reconsider the decision for blanket cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 examination;
Exempt Meghalaya and North Eastern Region candidates from any proposed re-examination in the absence of any proven irregularity within the State and the Region;
Alternatively, adopt a region-specific approach instead of a nationwide cancellation where no malpractice has been detected;
Protect the interests, future and mental well-being of innocent students who have prepared sincerely and appeared honestly for the examination.
The HYC firmly believes that while maintaining the sanctity of national examinations is essential, justice and fairness equally require that innocent students from remote tribal regions should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control.
We therefore request your immediate intervention and compassionate reconsideration in the interest of fairness, equity and justice. The letter was sign by President Mr. Raoy Kupar Synrem and Mr. Enlang Sawain Education Secretary.
