Breaking his silence on the NEET paper leak controversy, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday said the issue required an institutional solution rather than "media sound bites". Taking a swipe at the Congress and his former party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Chadha said his move from the Opposition to the treasury benches had also changed his role, with his focus now on finding solutions instead of merely raising questions.
Addressing the House during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, Chadha said many had questioned why he had remained silent on the NEET paper leak. Responding to the criticism, he said his responsibilities had changed after joining the treasury benches.
"Earlier, when I was in the Opposition, it was my job to raise questions, and I did it honestly. Now I am on the treasury benches, so my role has changed. My responsibility is no longer to ask questions but to provide solutions," he said.
Defending his approach, Raghav Chadha said he was not interested in grabbing headlines or appearing before television cameras, but in delivering results. "I had made a promise to myself that I would speak about the matter in Parliament only when we could bring a solution and when the system is being fixed. And today is that historic day when the system is being fixed," he said.
Reaching out to the protesting students, Raghav Chadha said their frustration was justified, describing NEET as more than just an examination. He said the test represented a gateway to a better future for lakhs of aspirants and their families, many of whom sacrifice financially and move to coaching hubs such as Kota and Delhi in pursuit of success. "Your anger is justified. Your emotions are justified. Your pain is justified," Chadha said.
Crediting the Centre for its response, Raghav Chadha said the NDA government had acted swiftly after hearing students' concerns, describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a guardian to the country's youth. "When students expressed their concerns, the Prime Minister listened to them like a guardian and changed the system. For the first time, our government has brought a comprehensive framework to tackle paper leaks. When it came to students, the government listened and acted," he said.
Highlighting the government's measures, the BJP Rajya Sabha MP said the investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak had been expedited, with a chargesheet filed before a fast-track court within 75 days. He also said future NEET examinations would be conducted through a computer-based system instead of OMR sheets. Describing paper leaks as a "chronic disease", Chadha said the issue should not be viewed through a political lens. He argued that accountability and ethics must prevail over party politics, irrespective of which state or political party was involved.
Turning his attention to his former party, Raghav Chadha referred to alleged irregularities in Punjab's Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination held on July 19. He claimed candidates were assisted through Bluetooth devices and alleged that a cheating syndicate charged aspirants up to ₹13 lakh to facilitate malpractice. He also targeted the Congress, citing the alleged SSLC paper leak in Karnataka earlier this year, and argued that examination fraud had become a nationwide problem that should not be exploited for political gains. Calling for bipartisan support, Chadha urged all parties to work together to curb paper leaks and restore public confidence in the examination system.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote amid heavy sloganeering by Opposition members. While the Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, it was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday after Opposition parties staged protests and later walked out of the House.
