Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has stirred fresh debate after praising NEET-UG 2026 topper Vaishnavi Das while making a remark linking academic success with religious faith, states Times of India.
Sharing a post on Instagram, Ranaut congratulated Das on her achievement and wrote that she had “never met an atheist topper”, suggesting that high-achieving students often possess a spiritual or religious outlook.
Her comments come amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demands for education reforms.
The actor’s remarks quickly drew attention on social media because they coincided with the ongoing controversy surrounding the examination.
While some users supported her views, others criticised her for making a generalisation about students’ personal beliefs.
The protests, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have expanded beyond the alleged paper leak to include demands for greater transparency in the examination system, accountability for alleged irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Several Bollywood personalities have publicly backed the student movement, while Kangana has consistently defended the central government’s position.
Ranaut had earlier criticised the CJP-led protests near Parliament, arguing that governments should not be pressured through street demonstrations and that policy decisions should be debated within Parliament.
