Sachin Tendulkar has offered his support to students protesting over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, saying India’s young people deserve an examination system where hard work is recognised, honesty is encouraged and merit is given priority.
Tendulkar wrote a post on X about the values he was taught by his late father, as he was a professor and mentor of a lot of students. He said those lessons have influenced him and still affect him today in a debate over examination integrity.
“Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts,” Tendulkar recalled his father telling him.
The former India cricketer said the problem goes beyond one exam or one class of students. He said society has a duty to make sure success doesn’t take the place of effort and integrity.
Tendulkar believes that a culture that only focuses on outcomes will make people look for shortcuts and not pursue hard work and merit.
Protesting in Delhi over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination continued. Students have protested and called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The demonstrations have heated up in recent weeks as demonstrators say police used barricades, lathi charges and tear gas to try to push them towards Parliament.
Tendulkar said he understood the disappointment of students who believe their hard work has not been fairly rewarded.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 23, 2026
“For students who feel disappointed when they feel that their hard work hasn’t been rewarded, it is understandable, too,” he said, and society must work together to make sure that students don’t go through this again.
The cricket icon also highlighted the role of parents, teachers, educational institutions and administrators in supporting India’s youth.
Young Indians have dreams and energy and, as a result, they are to be a large part of India’s future progress,” he said.
Tendulkar said supporting students should be a shared responsibility rather than just a matter of education authorities. Parents, teachers, friends, relatives, schools and administrators all have different roles to play in ensuring that young people remain encouraged and confident.
His remarks come at a time when the alleged NEET-UG paper leak controversy has become a major political and public issue. Student groups have continued to demand accountability, stronger examination security and reforms to prevent future disruptions.
The government has also announced measures to strengthen the action against examination fraud. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said recently that fast-track courts would be formed to deal with examination paper leaks.
Tendulkar ended his message by saying that a national culture in which effort and integrity are valued over achievement is needed.
He said India should work towards an environment where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged and merit prevails.
His intervention has added the voice of one of India's most eminent sports personalities to a growing public debate about examination integrity, student aspirations and the importance that young people can trust the systems that determine their educational and professional futures.
