NEET Paper Leak Shows Domination Of Education Sector Mafia In The Country

Case Filed Against NTA Seeking Replacement, Opposition Demands Overhauling

By Dr. Gyan Pathak

Recurring paper leaks, the latest being NEET-UG 2026, under the National Testing Agency (NTA), established by the Union Government led by PM Narendra Modi in November 2017, shows the domination of education sector mafia in the country in general, and NTA in particular. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has moved the Supreme Court alleging “systemic failure” of NTA, seeking to replace it or fundamentally restructure, and to conduct a fresh NEET-UG 2026 examination under judicial supervision. Opposition has demanded complete overhaul.

NTA was launched to conduct reliable and high-standard entrance examinations for higher education institutions in the country. The Union Minister of HRD Prakash Javadekar has called it “a historic decision and a much needed education reform” which will bring “tamper-proof exams.” The decision to launched NTA was taken by the Union Cabinet meeting held under PM Modi’s chairmanship. Obviously, the promise of “tamper-proof exams” has failed and the entire system of examination and education in the country has been dominated by the education sector mafia for decades, and they have become even stronger under PM Modi’s education policy.

NTA has slowly taken over all the examination as a premier, autonomous, self-sustained testing organisation under the Union Ministry of Education. Initially, it was created to relieve bodies like CBSE and AICTE of the burden of conducting large-scale tests and to move towards a more technology-driven, scientific, and transparent testing process. It conducts several examinations now such as JEE mains, NEET-UG, UGC-NET, CUET and many others. It manages several other examinations, but news of recurring paper leaks have been intermittently reported in the past.

NTA has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 12, which was held on May 3 and the Union Government has asked CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the “irregularities”. NTA has also said that the examination will now be held afresh on dates to be notified separately. The reports leading to cancellation stated that “guess papers” circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram matched more than 100 questions.

FAIMA requested the Supreme Court to give the direction to the Union Government to replace NTA with a “more robust, technologically advanced, and autonomous body for conducting NEET examinations. Their plea also seeks constitution of a high-powered monitoring committee chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, along with a cybersecurity expert, and a forensic scientist, to supervise the reconduct of NEET-UG 2026 examination until a new independent examination body is formally constituted.

Congress has said that there were 89 paper leaks cases and 48 retests in last 10 years from centre to states, and there were few plugs for a leaky record.

It should be noted that after 2024, paper leaks under NTA have become frequent. In NEET-UG 2024 leak Bihar Police had uncovered a leak network and arrests were made in Bihar and Gujarat. Allegation included candidates paying huge sums for access to papers. The case was taken over by CBI for investigation.

UGC-NET 2024 was cancelled on June 18, 2024 a day after the government agencies indicated that the examination process “may have been compromised”. CBI is investigating the case.

During CUET-UG 2024 examination wrong question papers were distributed at a Kanpur centre. NTA denied a leak but ordered re-examination for affected candidates.

In CUET-PG 2025 examination students alleged answer-sheet mismatches and response-sheet irregularities. It created controversy by paper leak was not officially confirmed.

After the 2024 paper leak crisis, the government had formed a reform panel led by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan to recommend changes in governance of examinations. However, many recommendations remained unimplemented.

After the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper leak, opposition political parties have demanded accountability from NTA. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi and the BJP of being “partners in the theft” of students’ future. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s so-called ‘Amrit Kaal’ has turned into “Vish Kaal” (the Era of Poison) for the country. He also alleged that BJP ultimately rewarded NTA DG after 2024 paper leak.

Rahul Gandhi said, “The NEET 2026 examination has been cancelled. The hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been crushed by this corrupt BJP regime. Some fathers took loans, some mothers sold their jewellery, lakhs of children stayed up all night studying, and in return, they got paper leaks, government negligence, and organised corruption in education. He also said, “This is not just a failure – It’s a crime against the future of the youth” adding that every time, the paper mafia gets away scot-free, while honest students bear the punishment. “If one’s destiny is determined not by hard work but by money and connections, what meaning will education hold?” he said.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal alleged “political patronage” behind repeated paper leaks reminding that NEET question papers were leaked four times in the last nine years.

CPI and CPI(M) also condemned the paper leak and demanded structural reforms in the examination system of the country while pointing to repeated irregularities and paper leaks. CPI(M) has demanded disbanding of the NTA, decentralisations through government bodies, a comprehensive inquiry into the leak, and strict punishment for those responsible.

General Secretary of the CPI described the leak as evidence of a “collapse” of the examination system. He reiterated that NEET is actually “unjust and discriminatory.” He also alleged that repeated examination scams and cancellations disproportionately harmed poor and rural students while benefiting coaching centres and privileged sections.

TMC’s Sagarika Ghose alleged that there was “zero accountability” in the Modi government. She described Modi’s administration as “incapable of daily governance.” TMC leader Mahua Moitra said that there were 50 re-exams in the past decade.

Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav said, “What is guarantee is there that the exam papers won’t leak again … in BJP’s corrupt system. As long as the corrupt BJP government remains in power, the examination system will continue to run on the basis of leaks.”

NSUI staged protest in front of NTA office and demanded the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Other students’ bodies have also criticised the NTA. BJD has also demanded Pradhan’s resignation alleging that he failed to fulfil his ministerial responsibility. (IPA Service)