An investigation has been launched into the alleged leak of a national medical entrance exam in India, forcing authorities to cancel the test for thousands of candidates and schedule a resit under heightened security. Sources confirm the leak, which surfaced on encrypted messaging apps hours before the exam, has rocked the country's already fraught admissions system.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), a fiercely competitive exam for medical and dental colleges, was cancelled in several states after question papers appeared online. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been called in to trace the source. One source, a senior education ministry official, told this paper: 'The integrity of the exam is paramount. This is a major breach.'
For India's aspiring doctors, the stakes could not be higher. Every year, more than 1.5 million students sit NEET-UG for fewer than 90,000 seats. Any hint of foul play can derail careers. Already, reports of similar leaks in other entrance tests have led to protests and student suicides. This latest scandal threatens to deepen the crisis of confidence.
The Ministry of Education has now mandated a retest for candidates in the affected centres, scheduled for next month. Tight security measures will include frisking, electronic jammers, and CCTV monitoring in exam halls. Students will be barred from taking any electronic devices, even watches. But critics say the problem lies not in the exam hall but in the opaque system of paper setting and transport.
Documents obtained by this outlet show that the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for the exam, outsourced paper handling to private partners. The lack of a digital trail makes leaks nearly impossible to prevent. One former NTA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'The system is broken. We need realtime encryption and a secure delivery chain. Without that, these leaks will keep happening.'
Meanwhile, the CBI has raided several locations and seized multiple devices. A senior officer confirmed the agency is looking for links to a larger racket that may have targeted other competitive exams. So far, no arrests have been made.
For the students caught in this mess, the wait is agonising. Many have spent years preparing, and families have poured savings into coaching classes. A 19-year-old candidate from Delhi, who asked not to be named, said: 'I feel cheated. I want a fair chance, not just a resit. What if it happens again?' That fear is justified. The same exam was cancelled in 2018 after a similar leak, and again in 2022 in two states.
The ministry insists that the new date will be secure. But for a system already buckling under allegations of corruption, this is another blow. The money trail leads to private coaching institutes that promise 'guaranteed admission' for a price. The leak suggests someone has found a way to deliver on that promise.
This investigation is ongoing. We will continue to follow the money and hold those responsible accountable.
