How Many Times NEET Paper Leaked? History of NTA NEET UG Paper Leak Cases, Action Taken, Who Involved

NEET Paper Leak History in India

According to major investigations and media reports, India has witnessed at least five major leak controversies in NEET UG exam between 2015 and 2026.

NEET UG Paper Leak Cases

*Note: Earlier the NEET UG exam was called AIPMT, which was conducted by CBSE. Later AIPMT was replaced by NEET UG.

NEET 2026 Paper Leak: Exam Cancelled

The alleged NEET 2026 paper leak has become one of the biggest controversies in the history of medical entrance exams in India. Investigators traced the alleged leak to Nashik, Maharashtra, with connections spreading to Sikar, Rajasthan.

How Did the NEET 2026 Paper Leak Happen?

According to investigation reports a courier employee allegedly provided temporary access to question paper trunks. Portable scanners were used to create digital copies and then files were routed through “shadow servers”. A 150-page “Guess Paper” PDF containing around 410 questions was distributed through Telegram and WhatsApp groups. Out of this “Guess Paper”, 140 questions were exactly the same as asked in the official NEET 2026 question paper.

Action on NEET 2026 Paper Leak

On May 12, 2026, NTA officially announced the cancellation of NEET UG 2026, which was conducted on May 3. The case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This became the first time NTA itself officially cancelled a NEET exam due to paper leak allegations.

NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak Controversy

The NEET 2024 controversy became one of the most discussed exam scandals in recent years. Investigators found that question papers of NEET 2024 were illegally accessed from Oasis School in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. The case involved accusations against the school officials, NEET exam centre superintendents, and coordinators linked to the exam process

How Was the NEET 2024 Paper Stolen?

As per the investigation reports available, the question paper box was accessed before the exam and digital copies were sent to safe houses in Bihar. Students involved in this scandal memorised answers overnight and appeared in the exam the next day. Half-burnt paper fragments were later recovered by police. The incident of NEET 2024 paper scam sparked nationwide protests, however, despite nationwide protest the Supreme Court of India refused to cancel the exam and ordered a re NEET 2024 for a limited number of 1563 students.

NEET UG 2021 Leak: Invigilator & Solver Gang Case

The 2021 NEET UG controversy highlighted weaknesses inside examination centres themselves. Jaipur Police exposed a real-time leak operation at the Rajasthan Institute of Engineering and Technology (RIET) exam centre.

Investigators found that an invigilator allegedly took the photos of physics and chemistry sections and then forwarded the images through WhatsApp to external “solver gangs”. The solver gang experts solved the paper from an off-site location and then correct answers were transmitted back to selected candidates. As per reports, candidates paid around Rs.35 lakh each for this.

Police arrested multiple people, including the invigilator and candidates involved. However, authorities treated it as a localised incident and did not order a nationwide NEET re-exam.

NEET 2016 Paper Leak Allegations

The year 2016 marked the transition from AIPMT to NEET. Since the AIPMT exam was replaced by NEET UG, students who appeared in the AIPMT exam (Phase I) were given an opportunity to improve their scores by appearing in the NEET UG exam (Phase II). Since the exam was conducted in two phases, several irregularities emerged.

Ahead of NEET Phase II, Uttarakhand Police arrested multiple individuals linked to an inter-state cheating network involving Delhi and Bihar. According to reports students were allegedly charged between Rs.10 lakh to 30 lakh and were promised leaked question papers before the exam. Temporary “safe houses” were used to distribute the leaked question paper.

What Action Was Taken?

CBSE (then conducting body) denied any large-scale systemic leak. Authorities claimed the racket duped students as the leak mainly involved fake papers. The admission process continued without a nationwide retest.

2015 AIPMT Paper Leak: The Bluetooth Cheating Scandal

Before NEET became the single national medical entrance exam, CBSE conducted the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT). The 2015 case remains one of the biggest exam scandals in India.

On May 3, 2015, Haryana Police uncovered a highly organised cheating racket operating across multiple states. Investigators found individuals using specially designed vests fitted with micro-SIM cards and Bluetooth devices.

How Did the Leak Work?

The cheating gang reportedly took digital copies of the question paper and sent questions to doctors and experts outside the exam centre. The involved students received solved answers through hidden Bluetooth devices in real time. The operation reportedly spread across nearly 10 states.

What Was the Result?

Although authorities claimed only a limited number of candidates benefited from this leak, the Supreme Court of India cancelled the entire AIPMT 2015 exam for more than 6 lakh students and ordered a complete retest. This was the first time the NEET UG exam was cancelled completely.