Kamal Ghorui
NEET UG 2026 paper leak: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP from Raebareli, posted on X about alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak claims, stating that questions were reportedly circulated on WhatsApp 42 hours before the examination and that over 22 lakh students were affected.He described the examination as compromised in his post, referring to claims of widespread circulation of questions and stating that the future of aspirants had been impacted.Rahul Gandhi flags claims over NEET UG 2026 paper leak on XAccording to the post, he said the NEET examination had effectively become an auction, with alleged sale of questions on messaging platforms ahead of the exam.He also referred to claims of 89 paper leaks over 10 years and 48 re-examinations, stating that repeated assurances had been followed by silence, and said he stood with students.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for strict law impact amid repeated NEET UG irregularity claimsPriyanka Gandhi Vadra, Member of Parliament from Wayanad and senior Indian National Congress leader, stated that reports of large-scale irregularities in NEET UG were being published once again. She said that corruption in examinations over several years was affecting students’ futures and that around 23 lakh candidates were impacted this time.She said students prepare for NEET with intense effort while families make significant sacrifices for their education. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the effectiveness of stricter laws against paper leaks passed in Parliament if corruption continued at the ground level.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra added that the Prime Minister is accountable to the country’s youth and asked how long the cycle of alleged damage to students’ futures would continue.Investigation underway by SOG into alleged circulation networkRajasthan Police Special Operations Group is investigating allegations that a question set circulated before NEET UG 2026 contained material closely matching the examination paper, including claims that around 120 Chemistry questions aligned with the test.Additional Director General Vishal Bansal said the agency was examining a “guess paper” of around 410 questions that reportedly circulated 15 days to one month before the examination, and confirmed that no arrests had been made.Allegations of question bank circulation and pricing under probeInvestigators have traced the alleged question bank to a medical student from Churu studying in Kerala, with reports that the material was passed through associates in Sikar on May 1 and later circulated via a paying guest operator to coaching linked networks across states.Officials are also examining claims that the document was sold for up to Rs 5 lakh two days before the examination and for around Rs 30,000 on the night prior, with digital messages marked ‘Forwarded many times’ recovered during investigation.Arrests made as agencies examine digital evidence trailSpecial Operations Group has arrested 13 suspects from Dehradun, Sikar and Jhunjhunu, many linked to counselling and admission services, including a Sikar based consultancy operator near a coaching institute on Piprali Road.NTA said it received information on May 7 regarding alleged irregularities in NEET UG 2026 and shared inputs with central agencies, advising candidates to avoid rumours while verification continues.NTA response and ongoing scrutinyWeeks after the examination conducted on May 3, 2026, the National Testing Agency reiterated that it had shared all relevant inputs with central agencies for examination. Officials said the process of verifying alleged leaks, circulation chains and digital evidence remained ongoing, with multiple agencies coordinating to establish the authenticity of claims and findings continuing process.
