NTA chief denies NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, says only certain questions were out

The National Testing Agency (NTA) told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education that ?no paper leak took place, only certain questions came out? in connection with the recent NEET-UG controversy, according to top sources. The remarks came during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

NTA was summoned by the committee amid the controversy surrounding NEET-UG 2026, conducted on May 3, 2026, and later cancelled following allegations that some questions circulating before the exam matched portions of the actual paper.

According to sources, NTA informed the panel that while malpractices and irregularities were detected, these did not amount to a complete paper leak.

NTA Chief Abhishek Singh and Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi informed the



committee that several recommendations had already been implemented, while work on others was still underway to make the NEET exam leakproof.

Sources said NTA told the committee that cancellation decisions were taken because the agency follows a zero-tolerance approach towards irregularities, arguing that even limited compromise of questions can undermine confidence in the examination process.

Officials reportedly reiterated that ?no paper leak happened?, while accepting that instances of malpractice prompted the cancellation on May 12.

The CBI investigation into the NEET-UG controversy led to multiple arrests across states, with action taken against alleged intermediaries, teachers, examination centre staff and individuals accused of facilitating irregularities.