NEET UG Controversy Explained: Paper Leak, Impersonations & Ongoing Probe

1. What’s the NEET UG Controversy?

The NEET UG exam, India’s medical entrance test held in May 2024 and May 2025, has been clouded by:

• Paper leaks before the exam
• Candidate impersonations during tests
• Alleged ambiguous questions impacting fairness
• Competitive court battles and ongoing probations
  These issues question the credibility of India’s largest medical admissions gateway (~23 lakh test-takers) and spotlight systemic vulnerabilities.

2. Key Incidents in 2024–2025.

2.1. Paper Leak in Patna & Hazaribagh

A major leak occurred on May 5, 2024, when NEET question papers from Hazaribagh were allegedly stolen and distributed via WhatsApp across Bihar and Jharkhand.
The CBI uncovered:

• 144 candidates implicated
• At least 49 arrested
• Sample paper sets retrieved in Patna and Hazaribagh
  This formed the basis for multiple chargesheets filed since August 2024

2.2. Ambiguous Question in NEET UG 2025

On May 4, 2025, a question in Set 45 (#63) reportedly had two valid answers—contradicting OMR format rules.
Students and educators appealed to the NTA to nullify it, but there’s no formal response yet

2.3. Impersonation Scams

Bihar (Samastipur/Patna): A proxy racket involving doctors and candidates exchanging ₹2.5–5 lakh per person was busted during the 2025 exam .
Jaipur (2020): Ayurvedic practitioner Subhash Saini and two medical students allegedly carried out a ₹60 lakh impersonation scheme during NEET UG 2020 .

3. Investigations & Legal Actions

3.1. CBI Chargesheets

• Patna/Hazaribagh paper leak (May 2024): Multiple chargesheets naming ~45 defendants under IPC and Prevention of Corruption laws
• Recent Fraud Cells (2025): Jaipur authorities are probing a Widespread impersonation network involving allopathic and ayurvedic practitioners and dummy candidates

3.2. Court Proceedings

The Supreme Court affirmed in July 2024 that while 155 candidates benefited from leaks, there was no systemic breakdown—thus no re-test was ordered.
However, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 has been passed, enforcing stricter punishment (up to 10 years imprisonment and ₹1 crore fines)
Madhya Pradesh HC even temporarily suspended NEET UG 2025 results over a power outage controversy at a test centre

4. New Anti-Cheating Measures.

In response, the NTA has:

• Increased CCTV surveillance and invigilator monitoring
• Required stricter authentication processes
• Implemented surprise inspection teams during exams
  The 2024 Act enhances oversight, enabling swift seizure of digital evidence and imposing corporate accountability on exam bodies .

5. Impact on Students & the Education System.

• Genuine aspirants face stress, delayed admissions, and integrity concerns
• Test conduct and fairness have been sharply questioned
• Judicial delays have delayed exam results and counselling
• Public trust has suffered, prompting calls for system-wide reforms