NEET-UG controversy: NTA claims questions were 'memorised,' not leaked

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declined to officially acknowledge before a parliamentary committee that the NEET-UG examination paper was leaked, despite arrests being made and the exam subsequently being cancelled. NTA Chairman Pradeep Kumar Joshi and Director General Abhishek Singh adopted this position during their appearance before the Parliamentary Committee on Education.

The officials argued that the incident could not yet be classified as a “question paper leak.” According to their explanation, certain teachers assigned to translate the question paper into Marathi allegedly memorised the questions and later disclosed them outside the examination process. They informed the committee that the NTA would formally recognise the incident as a paper leak only after the CBI confirms it upon completion of its investigation.

Committee chairman and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, along with opposition MPs including Dean Kuriakose, questioned the agency’s position. Digvijaya Singh reportedly asked what else it could be called if not a leak. However, the officials remained firm in their stand.

Following this, NDA MPs supported the NTA officials. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said no conclusion could be reached until the CBI submits its final report. NTA officials also informed the committee that strict measures have been put in place for the NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21.

Doctor arrested in NEET paper leak case
The CBI has arrested paediatrician Dr Manoj Shishure from Latur in Maharashtra for allegedly arranging the question paper for his son. This is the first time a parent has been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators found that the doctor had communicated with chemistry teacher P. V. Kulkarni, who had been appointed by the NTA to translate the paper, and also with Shivraj Motegaonkar, director of Maharashtra-based Renukai Career Centre (RCC). With the latest arrest, the total number of people arrested in the case has risen to 11.

The CBI also found that a 60-page handwritten PDF containing chemistry questions and answers had been circulated.

Fee refund details
Students seeking a refund of the cancelled exam fee must submit their bank details through the “Fee Refund” section on the website neet.nta.nic.in.