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In the midst of growing calls for his resignation over the NEET 2026 controversy, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met the student who achieved All India Rank 2 in the prestigious medical entrance examination. The high-profile interaction comes as the government faces sharp criticism regarding paper leaks, grace marks, and discrepancies in results that have affected lakhs of aspirants.

The meeting with the bright NEET topper is being seen as an attempt to celebrate merit and restore confidence in the system. However, opposition leaders continue to demand accountability, with protests and calls for systemic reforms intensifying across the country, particularly from Bihar and other states where irregularities were widely reported.

Dharmendra Pradhan has maintained that the examination process is robust, but the controversy refuses to die down. This gesture of meeting top performers aims to shift focus towards success stories, yet many view it as insufficient amid demands for a thorough probe and potential resignation of the Education Minister. The NEET row remains one of the biggest challenges for the education ministry this year.