Sachin Tendulkar urged society to cultivate a culture that rewards hard work, honesty, and merit in response to student protests over education reforms and NEET irregularities. He recalled his father teaching that failure is okay but cheating is not, warning that prioritizing outcomes could drive shortcuts over merit. Tendulkar said adults—parents, teachers, schools and administrators—share collective responsibility to support India's youth and ensure they do not feel unrewarded for their efforts. He described young Indians as full of dreams and energy and emphasized that the system should safeguard their aspirations. His remarks came as Delhi hosted protests at Jantar Mantar over NEET-UG 2026 paper leaks and calls for accountability and reforms intensified, with other celebrities echoing the call for a merit-based education culture and systemic changes.