NEET-UG Leak Row: The investigation into the alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper has intensified after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two academics from Pune. Retired lecturer P V Kulkarni and professor Manisha Gurunath Mandhare were produced before the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi, where the court reserved its order on the agency’s request for 14-day custody.
Officials said the National Testing Agency (NTA) has identified a list of question paper setters and translators who are now under scrutiny and shared the names with investigators. The agency is also reviewing and replacing experts previously associated with the exam preparation process to ensure a secure retest scheduled for June 21.
CBI Arrests Key Accused in Paper Leak Case:
The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested P V Kulkarni, a retired lecturer from Pune, identifying him as the main source of the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper. Investigators said Kulkarni was involved in preparing Chemistry questions and translating them into Marathi.
Another academic, Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, was arrested a day later. According to investigators, she had access to the Botany and Zoology sections after being appointed as a subject expert by the National Testing Agency.
NTA Flags Question Setters and Plans Overhaul:
Following the arrests, the National Testing Agency has reportedly flagged several question paper setters and translators who may have had access to confidential exam material. Their names have been shared with the Central Bureau of Investigation as part of the ongoing investigation.
Sources said the agency is preparing a revised panel of experts and removing individuals who were previously involved in the paper-setting process. The move is aimed at ensuring a “foolproof” system for the upcoming retest.
Existing Protocol for Secure Paper Setting:
According to guidelines recommended by an expert committee in 2024, the National Testing Agency follows strict protocols during the question paper preparation stage. Subject experts from across the country are selected, including a chief paper setter, and they work in a secure, acoustically insulated room without internet access.
Experts must leave personal devices outside the room, and their work is sealed daily. Language specialists are also required to certify that no third party or printing press has seen the marking scheme, question types, or the actual content of the exam papers before they are finalised.