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The massive leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper was allegedly uncovered after a hostel owner in Rajasthan’s coaching hub of Sikar noticed striking similarities between a circulated “guess paper” and the actual medical entrance examination held on May 3.

According to reports, the chain of events began late on May 2 when an MBBS student from Sikar, currently studying in Kerala, allegedly sent a PDF file containing the so-called “guess paper” to his father through WhatsApp. The student’s father runs a hostel for coaching aspirants in Sikar, one of India’s largest centres for NEET and competitive exam preparation.

Since the MBBS student was no longer appearing for NEET himself, he reportedly suggested that the material could help students staying at the hostel. However, by the time the PDF arrived, four girls residing at the hostel and appearing for the examination had already left for their exam centres.

Curious about the authenticity of the document, the hostel owner allegedly forwarded the PDF to a local chemistry teacher. After the examination concluded, the teacher reportedly compared the questions from the “guess paper” with the actual NEET question paper and found that 45 out of 108 chemistry questions matched exactly.

Alarmed by the similarities, the hostel owner and teacher then consulted a biology faculty member. Together, they allegedly discovered that nearly 90 out of 204 biology questions were also identical to those in the actual exam. In total, around 135 questions were said to have matched the original paper, raising immediate suspicions of a large-scale leak.

The hostel owner and the chemistry teacher reportedly approached local police in Sikar with their findings. However, according to reports, police initially declined to register a case, expressing concern that complaints filed after the examination could raise questions about the complainants’ intentions.

The matter was later escalated directly to the National Testing Agency (NTA) through email. The NTA subsequently alerted the Intelligence Bureau and asked Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) to investigate the allegations on May 8.

Investigators later verified the timeline and communication trail through the hostel owner’s phone records and WhatsApp chats, according to reports. The probe soon widened beyond Rajasthan and uncovered an alleged interstate network linked to the paper leak.

The investigation reportedly traced the chain from Sikar to Haryana and eventually to Nashik. Authorities allege that two brothers from Jamwaramgarh near Jaipur played a role in distributing the paper before investigators identified a first-year Ayurveda student in Haryana accused of selling the leaked material to aspirants in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

The probe later reached Maharashtra, where investigators allegedly recovered a physical copy of the “guess paper” from a Nashik-based student identified as Shubham Khairnar.

Following the controversy and nationwide outrage, the NTA cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination and announced that the test would be reconducted on revised dates. The agency clarified that candidates would not need to register again or pay additional fees, and all existing applications would remain valid.

The alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper has triggered one of the biggest examination scandals in recent years, with investigators uncovering a multi-state network that reportedly sold the paper for Rs 30 lakh nearly a week before the medical entrance examination was conducted.

According to investigators, the leak trail began on April 26, when two brothers from Rajasthan’s Jamwa Ramgarh — Mangilal and Dinesh Biwal — allegedly obtained the NEET paper from a doctor based in Gurugram. The doctor has now emerged as a key figure in the ongoing probe led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group (SOG).

Authorities claim the brothers paid nearly Rs 30 lakh for the paper before circulating it through personal and coaching-linked networks. One of the brothers allegedly first shared the paper with his son, who was preparing for NEET in Sikar, a major coaching hub in Rajasthan.

Within days, the paper reportedly entered a larger distribution chain involving middlemen, students, hostel operators, and counselling agents. Investigators allege that Rakesh Kumar Mandawariya, an MBBS counselling agent operating near coaching institutes in Sikar, purchased the leaked paper and further distributed it to candidates across multiple states.

The leak allegedly spread rapidly through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, eventually reaching more than 700 students in Rajasthan, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. The paper was reportedly sold both digitally and in printed form.

A key breakthrough in the investigation came after a student studying MBBS in Kerala allegedly forwarded the paper to his father, who operated a postgraduate hostel in Sikar. The message reportedly instructed him to distribute the material to hostel residents, claiming it would appear in the next day’s examination. After students noticed similarities between the circulated questions and the actual exam, suspicions intensified.

Investigators are now probing a possible printing press link in Nashik, where authorities detained a suspect believed to be connected to the leak chain. Rajasthan Police sources suspect the paper may have moved from a Nashik printing facility through Haryana before reaching the Biwal brothers in Jamwa Ramgarh.

The investigation has also revealed that some accused allegedly knew weeks in advance that the paper would be leaked. One of the brothers is reportedly linked to a political party, while several members of their extended family had cleared NEET in previous years, further deepening suspicion.

Following nationwide outrage, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 examination and said fresh dates would be announced within seven to ten days. The CBI has registered an FIR under provisions related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Public Examination Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024.

Students and parents across the country have sharply criticised the handling of the examination process, with many demanding that All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi be entrusted with conducting future NEET examinations to restore public confidence in the system.

Amid rising numbers of postgraduate medical candidates across India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an advisory urging medical colleges and institutions to support the conduct of National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) practical examinations by providing adequate infrastructure, clinical material, and qualified examiners.

The advisory, issued by the NMC’s Postgraduate Medical Education Board, highlighted growing concerns over the shortage of examination centres and delays in the availability of faculty members for examiner duties. Authorities warned that the increasing number of NBEMS candidates has significantly strained existing examination capacity, creating challenges in conducting postgraduate and postdoctoral practical exams on schedule.

According to the directive, government medical colleges and teaching institutions have been asked to facilitate NBEMS examinations “within administrative feasibility” by making available wards, laboratories, patients, and other essential infrastructure required for practical assessments. Institutions were also instructed to promptly release eligible faculty members nominated for examiner responsibilities to avoid delays in examination processes.

The NMC stressed that institutional cooperation is critical to maintaining the quality, credibility, and timely conduct of postgraduate medical education in the country. The commission noted that NBEMS practical examinations play a crucial role in certification and career progression for postgraduate medical students, and any disruption could directly affect graduating candidates.

The advisory further clarified that NBEMS provides financial compensation to examination centres for operational expenses and approved remuneration to examiners participating in the process. Institutions have also been asked to coordinate closely with NBEMS to ensure smooth examination management.

Medical education authorities warned that if shortages of examination centres and examiners continue, scheduling practical examinations may become increasingly difficult in the coming years, potentially delaying postgraduate qualifications and impacting healthcare workforce readiness.

The NMC described the move as being in the larger academic and public interest, aimed at strengthening India’s postgraduate medical examination infrastructure and ensuring that standards of medical training are not compromised despite the growing demand.,

In a major move aimed at increasing transparency and reducing financial pressure on families, the government of Bihar has introduced strict regulations for private schools regarding fee structures, uniforms, books, and stationery sales.

Announcing the decision on social media platform X, Samrat Choudhary said the reforms are designed to ensure accountability in private educational institutions and protect the interests of students and parents.

Under the new rules, all private schools in Bihar will now be required to publicly display complete details of their fee structures, including tuition, annual, and transport charges. The government said the step is intended to curb arbitrary fee hikes, after repeated complaints from parents that some schools were increasing fees by nearly 10 per cent every year without clear justification.

Officials have also been instructed to closely monitor private educational institutions to ensure compliance with the guidelines. The Bihar government warned that any violation of the directives could invite strict administrative action.

In another significant relief for parents, schools will no longer be permitted to compel families to purchase books, uniforms, or stationery from specific vendors or authorised shops. Parents can now buy these materials from any store of their choice, ending a long-standing practice that often increased educational expenses.

The government said the measure would help reduce unnecessary financial burdens on families, particularly those who were forced to purchase costly school materials through campus-linked sellers.

The reforms also include provisions aimed at protecting students from punitive action over unpaid fees. Schools will not be allowed to stop students from appearing in examinations or withhold results solely because of pending fee payments, according to the new directives.

The Bihar government described the reforms as a step toward creating a more transparent, student-friendly, and accountable education system across the state.

Punjab has emerged as one of India’s strongest-performing states in school education, with the latest NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026 placing the state ahead of Kerala on several foundational learning indicators.

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains described the achievement as the beginning of “Punjab’s Era” in education, attributing the progress to large-scale reforms, infrastructure development and the combined efforts of teachers, students and parents.

According to the report, Punjab recorded 82% proficiency in language and 78% in mathematics among Class 3 students, outperforming Kerala, which registered 75% and 70% respectively. In Class 9 mathematics, Punjab scored 52%, ahead of Kerala’s 45%.

Bains said the improvements were driven by post-pandemic recovery programmes introduced under the leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann. Initiatives such as Mission Samarth and the Schools of Eminence programme were highlighted as key contributors to improved learning outcomes and modernisation of government schools.

The minister also outlined significant infrastructure achievements across the state’s public education system. According to him, 99.9% of government schools in Punjab now have electricity, while 99% are equipped with functional computers. More than 80% of schools reportedly have smart classrooms, reflecting a major push toward technology-enabled learning.

Punjab has also reported progress in reducing dropout rates and improving continuity in education. Over 90% of Class 10 students are now transitioning to Class 11, while the student-teacher ratio has improved to 22:1.

Citing observations from the NITI Aayog report, Bains said Punjab had been recognised for narrowing the urban-rural education divide and expanding equal learning opportunities for students in villages and for girls. He added that the adoption of international teaching practices and targeted academic interventions has strengthened student performance in competitive examinations.

The minister revealed that 786 students from government schools have cleared JEE Main, while 1,284 students have qualified for NEET so far. Punjab has also established 118 Schools of Eminence, recruited 13,000 teachers and staff members, and launched the English Edge Programme, which has benefited nearly three lakh students.

Bains further noted that teacher training programmes conducted in countries such as Finland and Singapore have contributed to improving classroom instruction and pedagogy.

Calling the report a validation of ongoing reforms, the minister said the transformation in Punjab’s government schools is now becoming visible nationally, with students from public institutions increasingly competing at the highest academic levels in the country.

In a major push toward multilingual and inclusive education, the Ministry of Education will organise the Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp 2026 in schools across the country during the summer vacation. The week-long initiative aims to help students explore Indian languages through fun, activity-based learning rather than traditional classroom teaching.

Announcing the programme through a social media post, the ministry said the camp would focus on helping children develop basic communication skills in different Indian languages through interactive exercises, cultural exposure and everyday conversations.

The initiative builds on the success of last year’s edition, which reportedly saw participation from over 5.13 crore students nationwide. First launched in 2025 by Dharmendra Pradhan, the programme is now being expanded to schools across India following the strong response from students and educators.

One of the most significant additions to the 2026 edition is the inclusion of Indian Sign Language (ISL), a move being viewed as a step toward more inclusive classrooms and equitable learning opportunities. The decision also aligns with the broader vision of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises multilingual education, accessibility and cultural integration.

According to the ministry, the camp is designed to make language learning enjoyable and stress-free. Instead of focusing heavily on grammar rules, the programme encourages students to become familiar with sounds, phrases, vocabulary and expressions used in different parts of the country.

Seven-Day Learning Plan

The ministry has outlined a structured activity plan for the week-long camp:

• Day 1: Learning greetings, alphabets, numbers, signatures and basic self-introductions
• Day 2: Virtual city tours and role-play conversations for practical communication
• Day 3: Arts-based learning through music, dance and painting activities
• Day 4: Exploring names of foods, vegetables, fruits and ingredients in different languages
• Day 5: Activities centred on culture, listening skills and local heroes
• Day 6: Learning geography and history through rivers, mountains and important places
• Day 7: Reflection sessions, encouragement and closing activities

Officials say the broader goal is to expose children to India’s linguistic diversity in an engaging and natural environment. For many students, especially those from monolingual backgrounds, the camp could become their first meaningful interaction with languages spoken outside their home or region.

Education experts believe the programme could emerge as one of the largest language-learning initiatives ever conducted in Indian schools, while also helping children develop cultural awareness, empathy and appreciation for the country’s rich linguistic heritage.