NEET LEAK
The Doctored Exam
22 lakh students. 5,432 centres. A 150-page PDF. And a leak that brought down India’s biggest medical entrance exam
A “guess paper” circulating on WhatsApp, with around 120-135 questions matching the actual examination, exposed the leak of NEET UG 2026, one of India's most tightly-guarded exams. The May 3 exam was cancelled and the Central Bureau of Investigation launched a nationwide probe. Retest on June 21.
Police detain Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha members protesting at Lucknow University, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the NEET paper leak. (ANI Photo)
Police detain Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha members protesting at Lucknow University, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the NEET paper leak. (ANI Photo)
How Big Was NEET Scam
It went far beyond a single WhatsApp message. It involved a 150-page “guess paper”, multiple interstate links, lakhs of rupees. At stake - the future of nearly 22 lakh aspirants.
AISA members stage a protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the paper leak in New Delhi. (PTI)
AISA members stage a protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the paper leak in New Delhi. (PTI)
Number crunch
The Scam Decoded
Scale of the alleged exam paper leak, the probe and the money trail so far
Students affected
0 lakh
Exam centres
0
Leak PDF size
0 pages
Questions in PDF
0+
Matched actual paper
120–0
Students questioned
0+
Parents questioned
0
Suspects handed to CBI
0
Arrests so far
0
WhatsApp group entry
₹0+
Alleged resale amount
₹0 lakh
INSIDE THE PROBE
What Investigators Found In PDF
Of over 400 questions in a 60-page guess paper, around 120-135 matched the NEET exam.
People stage a protest against the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 in Madurai. (PTI Photo)
People stage a protest against the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 in Madurai. (PTI Photo)
Entire sections linked to Biology and Chemistry questions matched, suggesting the questions were leaked well before exam day.
Teacher Who Exposed the Leak
Complaint sparked nationwide probe
A coaching centre teacher in Rajasthan’s Sikar went to the police around 1:30 am on May 4. He said he had received a handwritten “guess paper” from his landlord, whose son in Kerala had forwarded it. On comparing it with the NEET exam paper, he found multiple matching questions.
On May 7, the teacher complained to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and offered his mobile phone for forensic analysis. Officials said he was cleared of wrongdoing as he received the document only after the exam.
Investigators probed WhatsApp circulation routes, coaching networks and interstate links tied to the alleged leak.
BREAKTHROUGH
WhatsApp Clue That Cracked The Case
The first major breakthrough came from a much-forwarded WhatsApp message
A CBI team takes custody of an accused arrested in Nashik. (PTI Photo)
A CBI team takes custody of an accused arrested in Nashik. (PTI Photo)
'Forwarded many times'
Investigators realised the document had already travelled widely through student and coaching networks and was not an isolated case.
The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) traced the message to a WhatsApp group named:
'Private Mafia'
Officials alleged members paid Rs 5,000 or more to join the group and access the guess paper. Despite 'do not share' instructions, the document spread rapidly across the country.
Investigators said the PDF eventually reached:
- Students
- Career counsellors
- Coaching networks
- Parents
Officials said the document was also possibly printed physically, which made tracing the exact leak route even harder.
The investigation intensified after teachers in Rajasthan’s Sikar cross-checked the leaked PDF after the exam and alerted authorities about similarities with the actual paper.
How The Leak Unfolded
Tap any step to expand. A 10-day trail from a WhatsApp whisper to a CBI case.
How NEET Papers Are Handled
NEET follows recommendations made by a committee headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan after the 2024 leak row, aimed at minimising access to the final paper
AI-generated image
AI-generated image
Step 1: Question paper setting
The NTA selects experts in Physics, Chemistry, Biology to prepare the exam:
The experts work in a bunker-like setting
They are cut off from external communication while setting the question paper.
AI-generated image
AI-generated image
Step 2: Secure digital storage
The paper is stored:
- On a single terminal
- Disconnected from the internet
Every access is logged to track:
- Who opened the file
- How many times it was accessed
AI-generated image
AI-generated image
Step 3: Printing under surveillance
The question paper goes to commercial printing presses under strict monitoring.
Security measures:
- NTA supervisors stationed at presses
- Minimum operators allowed
- Phones banned
- CCTV surveillance throughout printing
Officials are now probing whether the breach happened before or during printing.
AI-generated image
AI-generated image
Step 4: Storage in bank vaults
Printed test papers are shifted to bank vaults under district supervision.
District magistrates and cops monitor storage and transport.
AI-generated image
AI-generated image
Step 5: Transport
On exam day, question papers are transported to 5,432 centres:
- Under police escort
- In GPS-monitored vehicles
What Changed After The 2024 Leak?
The 2024 breach was traced to trunks carrying papers after they reached an exam centre in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh. Tap between the breach and the safeguards that followed.
Investigators alleged the paper was photographed, solved and sold after the trunks moved from the bank vault to the exam centre in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
Tap the tabs above to switch between the 2024 breach and the safeguards that followed.
Pune Lecturer, Nashik Student Among Key Accused
Pune-based chemistry lecturer P V Kulkarni arrested; CBI says he had access to the question papers as representative of National Testing Agency. Kulkarni allegedly dictated leaked questions in 'special coaching sessions'
Students allegedly paid several lakhs to attend the sessions. Pune beautician Manisha Waghmare acted as intermediary for money.
Medical student Shubham Khairnar allegedly bought the paper for ₹10 lakh and sold copies for ₹15 lakh each.
Scale Of The Investigation
INTEROGATIONS
150+
Students
Questioned as part of the investigation
GUARDIANS
70
Parents
Questioned regarding their children's involvement
IN CUSTODY
7
Arrests
People held in connection with the leak
SUSPECTS
24
Key suspects
People identified in the operation
Centre's Response
“Zero tolerance” policy against exam malpractice
The Centre has announced:
NEET-UG 2027 will shift to a computer-based format.
Which part of the security chain - access, printing, storage or transport - failed? The nationwide probe continues.
'NEET will transition to computer-based test mode from next year. OMR sheets are the root cause of the paper leak.'
Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister
With inputs from Indian Express correspondents
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