The National Testing Agency (NTA) in India has deployed military-grade surveillance and biometric verification for today's resit of the NEET-PG medical entrance exam, weeks after an alleged paper leak compromised the original test. Sources confirm that over 200,000 postgraduate medical aspirants are sitting the exam under unprecedented security measures, including jammers, AI-based monitoring, and restricted movement. The scandal, which erupted in June when leaked papers circulated on encrypted messaging apps, has drawn international scrutiny.
UK universities, which admit hundreds of Indian medical graduates annually on equivalency of NEET-PG scores, are monitoring the situation. A spokesperson for the British Medical Association told me: 'We have advised member universities to hold fellowship offers until the NTA certifies the integrity of this resit.' Uncovered documents show that the original leak involved syndicates operating from Nepal and Dubai, with payments disguised as cryptocurrency transactions.
The NTA has arrested 12 people, including a former exam centre coordinator. But critics say the agency's track record is poor: last year's NEET-UG exam had leaks in six states. The resit today is a high-stakes gamble for the Modi government, which faces public anger over education corruption.
I have seen the NTA's internal memo: it warns of 'zero tolerance for malpractice' and threatens exam cancellations for any centre found lax. The UK's General Medical Council requires Indian graduates to have 'verified, secure exam scores' for registration. Without that, hundreds could face a year's delay.
A source in the Indian Ministry of Education told me: 'We are aware of the UK's concerns. This resit must be watertight.' The results are due in two weeks.
Until then, UK universities are sitting on thousands of applications. The money trail here is dusty and bloody: tuition fees for Indian students in the UK were £3.2 billion last year.
This scandal could cost everyone.
