India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed charges against 13 people over the leak of question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), days after nationwide youth-led protests over the scandal forced the country’s education minister to resign.
About two million students sat the NEET examination in May before it was cancelled following allegations that question papers had been leaked. A fresh examination was conducted on June 21.
In a statement issued late on July 29, the CBI said those charged include three subject experts from the National Testing Agency (NTA), several middlemen accused of obtaining and distributing the leaked questions, and two individuals linked to coaching institutes who allegedly acquired the examination material.
“The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a charge sheet against 13 arrested accused for offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence and other offences,” the agency said.
All 13 accused remain in custody and could not immediately be reached for comment.
Question paper leaks have been a recurring problem in India’s examination system. NEET questions were also leaked in parts of the country in 2024, although authorities did not order a re-test at that time.
The controversy triggered weeks of demonstrations across India, with thousands of students and supporters gathering in New Delhi and protests spreading to several other cities. Demonstrators accused authorities of failing to protect the integrity of one of the country’s most important entrance examinations.
The protests ended after the education minister resigned on July 25, but legal proceedings continue. On July 29, India’s Supreme Court ordered that no coercive action be taken against protesters, directed the release of all detained minors and instructed authorities to preserve surveillance footage following allegations of police brutality.
The scandal has also prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to introduce legislation in Parliament proposing tougher penalties for examination fraud, including prison terms of between five and ten years and fines of up to 50 million rupees for offenders.
The NEET controversy has emerged as one of the biggest political challenges of Modi’s third term in office, raising broader concerns about transparency, accountability and fairness in India’s public examination system.
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