CBI cites security lapses at NTA and urges reforms after NEET-UG 2026 paper leak
The CBI’s investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak identified procedural gaps at the National Testing Agency, including limited CCTV storage and expert access to final questions, and recommended systemic safeguards to the education ministry.
The Central Bureau of Investigation submitted a detailed assessment to the Union Ministry of Education concerning the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The report points to procedural shortcomings at the National Testing Agency, notably that CCTV recordings at its former Okhla office were retained for only 20-25 days, preventing a full reconstruction of events, and that the facility lacked a dedicated live-feed monitoring room.
It also found that subject experts, including retired chemistry professor P V Kulkarni, botany teacher Manisha Mandhare, and physics teacher Manisha Havaldar, were involved in multiple stages of question setting and had unrestricted access to the final question sets. Security protocols were found lacking, with no frisking or metal-detector checks for personnel entering the confidential section. Although the CBI did not attribute criminal liability to any NTA official, it recommended extensive reforms—enhanced CCTV coverage, stricter access controls, and a four-tier paper-scrutiny system—to prevent future breaches. The findings arrive amid a broader overhaul of the agency, including staff reductions and the formation of a high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani.
Why it matters
The report exposes vulnerabilities in India's key medical entrance exam process, prompting reforms to safeguard millions of aspirants.
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