Fears of a significant integrity breach have emerged surrounding the NEET 2026 medical entrance examination after investigators in Rajasthan reported that a substantial portion of the exam questions allegedly matched material circulated prior to the test. The Special Operations Group (SOG) in Rajasthan has launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter, which could have serious implications for medical college admissions across the country.
Allegations of Widespread Matching Questions
According to sources within the Rajasthan SOG probe, approximately 600 out of the 720 questions in the NEET exam, held on May 3, showed similarities to a questionnaire shared among students in Rajasthan's Sikar district. Crucially, around 140 of these questions are reported to have been exact matches. Given that each NEET question carries four marks, investigators believe such a widespread overlap, if proven, could have fundamentally altered candidate rankings and medical college placements nationwide.
How the Material Allegedly Spread
The alleged questionnaire first surfaced in Sikar just two days before the NEET examination. Reports suggest it was initially sold to students for prices ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2 lakh. By the night before the exam, copies were reportedly changing hands for approximately Rs 30,000 each.
The SOG investigation has traced the suspected document back to a Churu-based MBBS student, currently enrolled at a medical college in Kerala. This student allegedly shared the material with a contact in Sikar on May 1. From there, it is believed to have spread rapidly through various informal networks, including:
- PG accommodations for students
- Coaching center-linked channels
- Career counsellors
- Aspirant groups
The circulated material reportedly included over 300 handwritten questions covering physics, chemistry, and biology, with the handwriting appearing consistent throughout. Investigators also noted that the alleged match extended beyond the questions themselves, with the sequence of answer options in several questions also corresponding to the circulated content.
Digital Trail and Suspicious Complaint
The probe has uncovered extensive digital circulation of the material via encrypted messaging platforms and social media. Recovered mobile phone chats bore the "forwarded many times" tag, indicating a potentially wide reach among candidates before the exam. Officials are also examining whether printed copies were distributed offline.
A PG operator in Sikar has come under scrutiny after allegedly receiving and forwarding the material, only to later file a complaint with the police and the National Testing Agency (NTA) after the exam. Investigators suspect this complaint may have been an attempt to preemptively cover tracks once the risk of discovery grew.
NTA Awaits Probe Outcome
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET, is currently awaiting the full outcome of the Rajasthan SOG investigation before determining its next course of action. The probe is focused on understanding the scale of the alleged network, identifying the original source of the question bank, and ascertaining whether an organized racket was involved in the leak.
Echoes of Past Controversies
These allegations bring back sharp memories of the NEET 2024 controversy, which involved claims of paper leaks, inflated marks, and systemic irregularities. That incident triggered nationwide student protests and drew intense scrutiny from the Supreme Court, highlighting the critical importance of ensuring the integrity of India's most significant medical entrance examination.