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NEET-UG Paper Did Not Leak Through NTA System
NEET-UG Paper Did Not Leak Through NTA System: Agency Chief Tells MPs
National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Abhishek Singh on Thursday told several members of Parliament that the NEET-UG paper was not leaked through their system and added that the CBI is investigating the matter.
Singh made the claims when he was grilled by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. Several MPs questioned NTA officials about what steps the agency has taken to strengthen the exam system to prevent paper leaks in the future.
The panel had summoned the top officials of the Education Ministry, including Education Secretary Vineet Joshi.
Also Read: NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak: Key Handwritten ‘Guess Paper’ At Centre Of Probe Surfaces. Check PDF
The NTA officials summoned in the meeting included Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi and Director General Abhishek Singh. The officials gave a detailed presentation on the recommendations in the Radhakrishnan Report for reforms in the agency.
According to PTI, when MPs asked how the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) paper was leaked, Singh claimed that the paper was not leaked through their system.
The NTA DG further added that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into the matter.
Some Opposition MPs also demanded a presentation of the probe report before the panel; however, some MPs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to this demand and said that the CBI is an independent body and it should be given the freedom to do its work.
Singh also gave a detailed presentation on how the recommendations in the Radhakrishnan Report will be implemented to reform NTA and said that around 70% of the short-term measures suggested have already been implemented.
The NTA officials informed the members of the panel that they are taking steps to ensure a foolproof examination system and the agency is conducting a comprehensive review.
They added that credible people should be part of the paper setting and distribution system. NTA officials further said that they are considering conducting the NEET exam through a computer-based testing (CBT).
Also Read: No OMR Sheets, NEET To Be Conducted Online From Next Year, Says Dharmendra Pradhan After Paper Leak
The MPs raised the issue of staff shortage and asked NTA to fill vacancies to ensure efficient functioning of the agency and to prevent any paper leak.
According to PTI, NTA officials informed the members of the committee that there is nearly 25% staff shortage in the agency and steps are being taken to fill all the vacancies.
The Radhakrishnan Committee has proposed a wide-ranging overhaul of the examination system, recommending a unified framework for undergraduate entrance tests, a phased shift towards computer-adaptive exams, and the development of a public testing platform by the NTA.
As part of its long-term reforms, the expert panel has suggested moving away from traditional pen-and-paper examinations to computer-based tests. It has also recommended introducing multi-stage and multi-session exams, along with limits on the number of attempts and age eligibility, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Also Read: Rs 30 Lakh For A Medical Seat: Probe Reveals How Latur NEET Racket ‘Guaranteed Selection’
To strengthen exam security and efficiency, the NTA plans to build a cloud-enabled digital infrastructure and incorporate technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain for real-time monitoring and secure operations. The agency is also working towards reducing dependence on external test-delivery vendors by creating its own examination software ecosystem and conducting institutionalised pilot runs.
In addition, the NTA intends to deploy advanced encryption systems and stronger network-security protocols, while developing a modern testing model based on global best practices, including insights drawn from the ETS examination methodology.
The controversy erupted after investigators discovered that a so-called “guess paper" circulating before the exam allegedly matched a large number of questions from the actual NEET paper. Reports suggested that nearly 120 to 140 questions overlapped with the final exam paper.
Initially, the NTA dismissed rumours circulating on social media and messaging apps. However, state police units and later central agencies began probing suspicious activity linked to coaching centres and middlemen across multiple states.
According to investigators, copies of the paper may have been circulated through courier networks, encrypted messaging apps and coaching circles operating across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar and Kerala.
On May 12, the NTA officially cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was conducted on May 3, saying the integrity of the examination process had been compromised. The Centre handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The NTA announced that the re-examination will be conducted on June 21.
The CBI has arrested nine people so far in connection with the case, with the accused hailing from Jaipur and Sikar in Rajasthan, Gurugram in Haryana, and Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra.
A major breakthrough in the probe came from Pune, where the agency arrested chemistry lecturer PV Kulkarni. The CBI also arrested Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a Botany teacher based in Pune, as part of the investigation.
With inputs from PTI
Source: News18
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