The first breakthrough in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy reportedly began inside Rajasthan’s coaching hub of Sikar, where a teacher chose to closely
examine suspicious documents that many had initially dismissed as routine exam material. As per various media inputs, the incident unfolded shortly after the NEET UG examination held on May 3. A student allegedly approached a coaching teacher with PDFs that had been circulating before the exam as “guess papers.” While such documents are common during competitive exam season, the teacher reportedly became suspicious after noticing striking similarities between the circulated material and the actual NEET UG question paper. According to reports, the PDFs allegedly contained detailed Biology and Chemistry questions. The teacher, along with another faculty member, is said to have spent several hours comparing the leaked documents with the official paper. Their analysis reportedly revealed that nearly 135 questions matched, including around 45 Chemistry questions and 90 Biology questions. The overlap was considered too significant to be ignored. Also check | CBSE Re-evaluation Window Opens Today for Class 12 Students Reports suggest the teacher and the student then began gathering evidence, including screenshots, timestamps and copies of the circulated PDFs. They reportedly attempted to alert local authorities and journalists about the matter. However, when immediate action did not follow, a formal complaint was eventually sent to the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 7 along with supporting material highlighting the alleged matches. As scrutiny around the complaint intensified, the matter was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agency has since arrested multiple accused in connection with the alleged leak. According to various media reports, investigators are now probing whether portions of the NEET UG paper may have been leaked from within the paper-setting or exam preparation process itself. Separate investigations have also reportedly traced the circulation chain through networks involving MBBS students, coaching intermediaries, hostel operators and local contacts across states including Rajasthan and Kerala. The controversy soon escalated into a nationwide issue, sparking protests and concern among students and parents over the credibility and fairness of India’s largest medical entrance examination. Amid increasing pressure and ongoing investigations, authorities eventually cancelled NEET UG 2026. The re-examination is now scheduled to be conducted on June 21 under heightened security arrangements.
