Priyanka Gandhi Accuses Government of Collecting ₹1.32 Lakh Crore from NEET Students

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has accused the Indian government of extracting ₹1.32 lakh crore annually from NEET students and their families, a figure she claims is nearly equal to the entire national education budget of ₹1.40 lakh crore. In a social media post on Wednesday, Gandhi also highlighted that the government has written off ₹16 lakh crore in loans to favored businesses, contrasting this with the financial burden placed on students.

Priyanka Gandhi's remarks follow a visit by her brother and fellow Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17, where he addressed students under the 'Students' Echo' program. Rahul Gandhi discussed the immense pressure the education system places on students and called for collective action against the stress that he said often leads to tragic outcomes such as student suicides. He claimed that families spend approximately ₹3.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh crore annually preparing for five major competitive exams: NEET, JEE, SSC, UPSC, and RRB.

The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was originally held on May 3 but was canceled on May 12 due to allegations of question paper leaks in several states. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has since announced a re-examination scheduled for June 21, with changes including extended exam time from 180 to 195 minutes and revised admit card download procedures. The NTA has clarified that students can now download admit cards without immediate bank account verification, which had previously caused difficulties, and remain eligible for fee refunds.

NEET, introduced in 2013, is the national entrance test for admission to medical and dental courses across India, including prestigious institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER. Over one lakh medical college seats are filled through this examination each year.