NEET paper leak: CBI, NTA outline safeguards for June 21 retest

CBI Director Praveen Sood on Friday apprised a parliamentary panel about the progress made in the probe into the NEET-UG paper leak case and the steps being taken to arrest all those behind the leakage.

Top officials of the Union Education Ministry led by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh and officials of the National Medical Commission (NMC) including its chairman Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth also appeared before the panel.

Sources said the officials informed the Parliament?s Committee on Government Assurances about the steps being taken to ensure transparency in the June 21 NEET-UG retest to prevent any leakage or malpractice.

The panel had summoned officials of the ministry, the National Testing Agency (NTA), NMC and the CBI to appear before it in connection with the assurances given to Parliament by the government on the conduct of examinations by the testing agency.

According to the sources, the committee told the officials to ensure that the seat matrix of medical admissions is not disturbed and counselling of students qualifying for admissions to medical colleges is held in



time.

The seat matrix outlines the distribution of available medical and super-specialty seats across the country. It also classifies seats by quota and the student category.

The CBI director informed the panel members on the progress made by the probe agency into the paper leak case, the number of persons arrested so far and the steps being taken to arrest the remaining accused, the sources said.

The ministry officials also informed the panel about the steps being taken by the government to ensure fairness in the conduct of the NEET-UG on June 21.

Committee chairperson M Thambidurai did not say anything on what happened at the meeting, saying the proceedings of the panel were confidential.

The NEET-UG for admissions into medical courses took place on May 3 this year but was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 amid allegations of a paper leak. The CBI is currently investigating this matter, and a retest is scheduled for June 21.

The committee summoned the officials as the government had given an assurance in the Rajya Sabha in reply to an unstarred question dated November 27, 2024, regarding ?Conduct of Examination by NTA?.