Bengaluru, May 14 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday strongly criticised the Union government's decision to cancel the NEET-UG 2026 examination, calling it not merely an administrative failure but a "cruel betrayal" of the country's youth.

In a media statement, Siddaramaiah said more than 22 lakh students across the country, including over one lakh students from Karnataka, had worked hard for months to appear for the examination. He pointed out that parents had also spent significant amounts on coaching, travel and other arrangements for their children's future.

"However, a single decision by the Centre has pushed the entire student community into uncertainty and distress," he alleged.

The Chief Minister said the Karn...