Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi
“Don’t create political chaos”: DU VC Yogesh Singh on NEET controversy
Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh has urged students protesting the NEET-UG controversy to remain calm, avoid panic and not get influenced by political chaos. He said the situation was painful but the National Testing Agency’s decision to cancel the exam was appropriate under the circumstances. Singh encouraged students to continue preparing and expressed confidence that the government will take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
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About Yogesh Singh
In mid-July 2026, University of Delhi Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh spoke at multiple events, including the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College and a ceremony organized by the University of Delhi Foundation. At the college event, Singh reflected on the institution's 60-year legacy, paid tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and encouraged students to read Bhagat Singh's Jail Diary. He urged students to become "givers" rather than "takers," to be "players" rather than "spectators," and to focus on becoming job creators. He also quoted poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, asking students to decide whether they would be a "flower" or a "stone." At the University of Delhi Foundation event, Singh spoke about the importance of philanthropy, stating that "giving is perhaps the most difficult things in life" and that Indians are "not trained tuned for giving" to universities. He said that "the greatest joy comes from what we contribute" and praised a donation from the family of alumna Rita Bhargava Mukerje, noting that such contributions "will not only construct infrastructure, but also build aspirations." Singh also referenced a story about a Stanford University student organizing a concert to pay fees, and called on alumni to remember the classrooms "where dreams were born."
Transcript (6 segments)
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Interviewer0:00
We are here today with Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh to talk about some of the most important issues that have gripped the nation's attention for the last couple of days. Sir, coming to the first thing, the NEET controversy has shaken the students' trust in competitive exams. What institutional reforms do you think are urgently required to restore credibility?
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Yogesh Singh0:27
What has happened in the NEET examination? It is painful. It should have been avoided, but it happened. You know, it is very easy now. The NTA has taken a decision to cancel the examination. That is the right step at the right time. Government of India is also taking all possible steps. But here now, I would like to request all the students — please be calm, have faith and trust in the government. These are difficult times for all high-stakes examinations. We have to be very, very careful. But you know, sometimes there are — like gangsters, it is like a mafia which try to take advantage of the whole situation, and they are taking it. But now government has taken a step to cancel. But we have to prepare ourselves that we have to appear again. Please, my dear students, do not waste your time. Study hard. Again, it happened. Now we can't crib for a very long period of time. But I am very confident that the government of India will take all steps, and the next time this will not happen. So don't worry, study, study, and don't create panic unnecessarily.
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Interviewer1:53
Sir, that brings me to my next question. Do you believe that the current centralized testing ecosystem has become too high-stakes for students? Is that something that needs to be addressed by the government?
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Yogesh Singh2:08
It has always been very high-stakes. It's not that it just happened today. The reason is that India is a country of 140 crore people. Seats are few, people are many. Now this is one of the world's largest exams — 23 lakh students appeared for a few seats. So when stakes are high, people feel that money can be made from this, and gangs — mafia — have gathered in the country. You must have heard of the liquor mafia. The liquor mafia operates like this for all their work. Drug mafia — because money is involved. And this organized crime system that has formed, it now needs to be broken. Although in the past few years it has been broken to some extent. As soon as the government came to know, they immediately took steps and canceled it. And now you can see how much police action is happening. This is what is expected from any government. But as far as educational reforms are concerned, yes, we have to take steps. Technology, on one side — technology is giving comforts, technology is also giving us opportunities, but there are inherent challenges of technology also when it comes to examinations. Now, hidden cameras and so many other things to breach the system — this fight will always continue. But gradually, there is also a lot of improvement. The examination-conducting agencies are doing it and they should do it. But my request to everyone is: please don't panic. Don't create a chaotic atmosphere. This was one incident. The government has taken the right step. So have faith that your future is a concern for you, for your families, for the government, for the country, for all of us. And together we will make sure things improve.
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Interviewer4:02
Sir, while that was the technical part of what has gone wrong, this obviously has been very damaging for a lot of students who have been preparing for years. Their mental health — like I was speaking to a couple of students yesterday, they were talking about how they feel heartbroken. They don't feel like preparing again. What advice would you give these students right now? Because these are young, 17, 18 years old. You know, their emotions, their actions, their reactions are very natural.
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Yogesh Singh4:32
Had I been in the place of those students, my reaction would have been the same. They are innocent students. But you know, sometimes accidents happen. Nobody wanted that it should have happened, but it happened. And after the accident, now we have to think about what next. Next is a better exam as soon as possible, so that hardworking, bright students should clear it, should get good marks. That is the priority of the government and the educational fraternity. That's why even regarding this NEET matter, I say — have trust in the government, have trust in the systems. This country has been built and stood up with great difficulty. No one has exams as large as ours. No one has as many students as we do. No one has as many intelligent minds as we do. This is a country of bright people. We have to create opportunities for them. Sometimes there are setbacks, things happen. But how to improve this further? If all of you have ideas, then I think you should give ideas to the government so that we can build a better system for our country. This is our own country. We have to be concerned and we have to create solutions. No one from outside will come and build it. And just protesting at a time when students should be studying — why should we divert their attention? I would also appeal to associations to create the right kind of environment for children so they can study. Whenever the exam happens in a few days and the government conducts it, create an atmosphere for that. Too many cases and political disturbances will also negatively affect children's minds. We must look at their future. Let us accept that this incident was an accident. It will not happen again. We should believe that. This is the truth, and we should have faith, because if we have trust, we can achieve great things.