New Delhi: Terming the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 as extremely tragic for lakhs of medical aspirants, the AIIMS Faculty Association (FAIMS) has demanded compensation for the affected students, fast-track investigation into the alleged paper leak and comprehensive reforms in the country’s examination system.In a memorandum sent to the education and health ministries and the AIIMS director, the faculty body said repeated paper leaks have “severely shaken” public confidence in national examinations and have caused “unprecedented mental trauma, uncertainty and financial burden” on students and families.More than 22 lakh candidates appeared for the examination this year out of about 22.75 lakh registered candidates, the association said, adding that students from hundreds of cities had invested years of preparation and significant financial resources.While welcoming the decision to refund the exam fees and conduct the exams afresh without additional fees, FAIMS said the measures were “grossly inadequate”. It sought reimbursement of travel, accommodation and other incidental expenses incurred by the candidates and their families due to the canceled examination.The association also demanded a fast-track investigation and prosecution of all persons involved in the alleged paper leak, including any institutional or insider involvement, along with public disclosure of the findings. The representation was signed by FAIMS President Dr. Amarinder Singh Malhi and General Secretary Dr. Keshav Goyal.FAIMS proposed to set up an independent “Examination Integrity Commission” with statutory authority and cyber-security experts to monitor national examinations and prevent future leaks. It also demanded mental health support for NEET aspirants, age relaxation for affected candidates and a review of the National Testing Agency governance mechanism.