The recent NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) paper leak triggered protests by students in New Delhi and several other parts of the country, reflecting a deep sense of frustration and anger that can no longer be ignored or taken lightly by the government.

Repeated examination paper leaks, technical glitches, retests and cancellations over the years have been a blotch on the Indian education system.

A simple Internet search is enough for anyone to understand how deep rooted the problem is.

"Paper leaks often become lucrative because the stakes are extremely high. In many examinations, candidates have to pay fresh application fees if a re-examination is conducted, creating an incentive for vested interests to exploit the system,” an education expert told The Secretariat.

According to estimates, there have been around 90 incidents of paper leaks across states over the last ten years, affecting crores of students and job seekers. Besides NEET, several examinations and recruitment tests have been marred by paper leaks. These include the CBSE Class 10 and 12 board examinations, Rajasthan Police Constable Recruitment Examination, Gujarat Head Clerk Recruitment Examination, Bihar Constable Recruitment Examination, and UP Police Constable Recruitment Examination, among others.

The Current NEET Controversy:

The NEET that was held on May 3 was cancelled on May 12. 2026 following a massive paper leak. NEET has been hit by controversies. In 2024 too it came under the scanner with similar allegations and other discrepancies.

The NEET is held by the National Testing Agency (NTA), set up by the Centre in 2018 as an autonomous testing organisation under the Ministry of Education. The NTA was established to conduct transparent, efficient and standardised entrance examinations for higher educational institutions conducts the maximum number of entrance examinations in India.

Major examinations conducted by the NTA include:

• NEET (UG)
• JEE Main
• CUET (UG)
• CUET (PG)
• UGC-NET
• National Common Entrance Test (NCET)
• All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE)
• SWAYAM Entrance Test
• Various recruitment and entrance examinations assigned by the Central Government

Paper Leaks in India: Why Is The Anti-Cheating Law Not Making a Difference?

Worried over repeated paper leaks, the NDA government introduced stringent legislation in 2024 to curb such malpractices.

But why has the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, which provides for stringent punishment, not curbed paper leaks?

Unfortunately, several people have also been arrested and punished under the Act, the legislation does not appear to have had much impact on the ground. Paper leaks have continued with alarming frequency despite the enactment of the law.

The Public Examinations Act: What the Law Provides

The problem of paper leaks was already a matter of serious concern when the government introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 to tackle the growing menace.

While piloting the Bill in the Lok Sabha on February 6, 2024, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said:

"We have a huge stake in the youth of this country who comprise more than 70 per cent of the population below the age of 40. Therefore, we cannot allow the meritorious to be sacrificed at the altar of such organised crimes or such self-centred elements in this society."

Observing that malpractices in public examinations often led to delays and cancellations, adversely affecting the prospects of millions of young people, the legislation sought "to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the youth that their sincere and genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded and their future is safe."

The legislation was intended to effectively deter individuals, organised groups and institutions that indulge in unfair means and undermine public examination systems for monetary or other wrongful gains.

Under the Act, individuals found guilty can face imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. In the case of service providers, the punishment can extend to 10 years' imprisonment along with a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.

"One way to minimise the risk of paper leaks is to create a large, secure question bank. On the day of the examination, an AI system can randomly generate the final question paper from this pool. Since the paper would be created just before the exam, the chances of it being leaked would be significantly reduced," Akash Upadhaya, Physics Faculty for Engineering Entrance Examinations, Aakash Institute, South Delhi.

An education expert noted that one way to address this is to adopt a two-stage examination process, similar to the UPSC model, where a screening test narrows the number of candidates appearing for the final examination. “This would make the process more manageable and secure. Additionally, every question paper should carry a unique printing code or centre-specific identifier so that, if a leak occurs, investigators can trace the paper back to the printing location or distribution point from where it originated, making it easier to fix accountability," he said.

Why Effective Enforcement Matters

It is imperative for the government to take effective and stringent action against paper leaks, as they erode the credibility of the country's examination system and jeopardise the future of meritorious students. They also have wider implications for students seeking admission to overseas universities and candidates applying for jobs.

Although CBI investigations have been initiated and cases are being pursued against individuals and entities responsible for paper leaks, it could take years before the guilty are convicted and punished. The legislation will remain effective only on paper unless investigating agencies pursue these cases expeditiously and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

The success of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act will ultimately depend not on the severity of the penalties it prescribes, but on the certainty and speed of enforcement. Unless offenders are promptly investigated, prosecuted and punished, paper leaks are likely to continue undermining the integrity of India's examination system and the aspirations of millions of students.

India needs to fix this urgently. It not only dents Brand India, it affects lakhs of students and their future.