The parliament in 2024 passed a law with rigorous punishment to curb the paper leaks, including the provision of 10 years of maximum jail terms and a fine up to Rs 1 crore. Despite law, the paper mafia exists in cahoots with the powers elected and appointed in government and administration. The recent NEET paper leak scandal has exposed the ugly underbelly of the exam mafia.
Conducted on May 5, 2024, the 2024 NEET saw 2.4 million candidates strive for a seat in their choicest medical colleges across India. On the day of the exam, several social media posts alleged of paper leaks which the National Test Agency (NTA) denied.
The agency initially stated in a notice of isolated incident of incorrect distribution of papers while re-conducting exams for 120 affected candidates in Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the merit list declared by the NTA had 67 candidates with the exact same marks—a perfect score of 720! Eight of the above candidates are from the same center. Two students with AIR rank 68 and 69 scored 719 and 718 marks, which is impossible per the marking schematics of NEET.
Amid massive protests by students, parents, and opposition, the government has finally relented, even as investigative agencies are on their heels nabbing key culprits. The scandal has been covered by international media as well. Even as the NTA conducted a re-exam that was skipped by 48% of the eligible 1,563 candidates.
Meanwhile, a sting operation has revealed how the paper leak mafia targeted about 1000 st.
