NTA Mocked 22 Lakh Students Online — Then Deleted the Tweet. Today, They Face the Supreme Court.
Published 2026-05-29 · 5:00 AM IST · CJP Newsroom
In late April 2026, NTA posted a mocking message on X (formerly Twitter) directed at students preparing for NEET — students already terrified by what they didn't know was coming. Then NTA deleted it. Today, May 29, 2026 at 10:30 AM IST, that same NTA stands before the Supreme Court to answer for the paper leak that cancelled the exam for 22.79 lakh students. The irony is the story.
What NTA Tweeted — And Then Deleted
In late April 2026, weeks before NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3, NTA posted on its official X (Twitter) account. The first post read:
"You think it's just a question paper? That's the biggest illusion students live in."
Students responded with anger. After the backlash, NTA edited the post rather than deleting it immediately, replacing the original text with:
"Still making excuses about your mock scores? The NTA is deploying the latest mechanisms, including AI, to ensure this year's exam is foolproof."
Both posts were subsequently deleted. An X user captured the public reaction at the time: "What is this NTA? Why so much hatred for NEET aspirants? You shamelessly challenged 17 year olds." Physics teacher Joginder Yadav told The Print that "the problematic post scared students. This exam already puts so much pressure on the students." (The Print — NTA X post controversy, April 28, 2026)
NTA pivoted to mental health messaging after the deletion. Less than five weeks later, the exam it had called "foolproof" was cancelled due to a confirmed paper leak.
The Supreme Court's Verdict on NTA's Character: "Hasn't Learnt Its Lesson"
On May 25, 2026, the Supreme Court bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe did not mince words about NTA's record:
"It's sad that they have not learnt their lessons. The matter travelled to this court earlier also. There was a committee, a monitoring committee which made some recommendations, and they were accepted."
The court directed NTA to file an affidavit on the status of its monitoring committee and the implementation of 101 reform recommendations accepted after the 2024 NEET paper leak. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan was separately ordered to file his own affidavit. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was directed to appear today. The petition — WP(C) No. 651 of 2026 — was filed by FAIMA through Advocate Tanvi Dubey, with the United Doctors Front also seeking NTA's dissolution. (SCC Online — SC issues notice to NTA, May 26, 2026)
Today's 10:30 AM IST hearing is the compliance review: did NTA actually implement the reforms it promised? The same institution that told students their exam anxiety was "the biggest illusion" now has to answer that question under oath, in open court.
This article is published at 5:00 AM IST. The hearing has not yet taken place. CJP will not speculate on its outcome.
What Happened to 22 Lakh Students
NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3, 2026. Over 22.79 lakh students sat the examination — the largest NEET cohort in history. The exam was cancelled on May 12 after a paper leak was confirmed and a CBI investigation was ordered. NTA subsequently opened a refund portal for all affected candidates. The re-examination is scheduled for June 21, 2026. The refund portal deadline has been extended to June 22, 2026. (ETV Bharat — NTA refund portal for 22 lakh candidates; Testbook — refund portal extended to June 22)
These are the same students NTA told, weeks before the exam, that their worry was "the biggest illusion." Their exam was not an illusion. The leak was not an illusion. The cancelled future was not an illusion.
CJP's Response: 6 Lakh Signatures and Cockroaches Don't Quit
The Cockroach Janta Party — the satirical Gen Z political movement founded on May 16, 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke in response to Chief Justice Surya Kant's "cockroaches and parasites" remark — launched a campaign demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and NTA's replacement. The petition collected approximately 6 lakh signatures. (Al Jazeera — CJP founder interview, May 23, 2026)
Dipke's words, as quoted by Al Jazeera: "Those in power think citizens are cockroaches and parasites. They should know that cockroaches breed in rotten places." (Al Jazeera, May 23, 2026)
The Tribune India covered the campaign: CJP's demands are Pradhan's resignation and a systemic replacement for NTA. (Tribune India — CJP campaign)
A CVoter survey published May 28, 2026 found that 66% of respondents want Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over the NEET 2026 paper leak and related CBSE controversies. For the full picture of that public opinion, read our earlier piece on why 66% want Pradhan to resign. (India Today NE — CVoter survey, May 28, 2026)
What Happens Next
- Today, May 29, 10:30 AM IST: SC bench (Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe) reviews NTA's compliance affidavit. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appears.
- June 14, 2026: Admit cards for the NEET re-exam expected.
- June 21, 2026: NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. (ETV Bharat)
- June 22, 2026: Refund portal deadline. (Testbook)
For more on the SC's specific affidavit demands and the Radhakrishnan committee's 101 reform recommendations, see our detailed brief on the NTA affidavit due today. For the full May 29 hearing context, see our May 29 hearing hub. For the broader NEET 2026 campaign, visit the CJP NEET campaign page.
What will the SC order today? Check back after 10:30 AM IST. CJP does not speculate on judicial outcomes.
NTA told students their exam anxiety was an illusion. Then the paper leaked. Today the SC asks: what did you actually do?
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