India’s CBI Charges 13 in NEET Exam Leak Scandal
NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) – India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged 13 individuals involved in the recent leak of question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This comes just days after student protests over the issue led to the resignation of the education minister.
Nearly 2 million students participated in the NEET exam in May, but it was scrapped due to allegations of leaked questions. A re-test took place on June 21.
Among those charged are three experts from the National Testing Agency, several middlemen who distributed the leaked papers, and two individuals linked to coaching institutes involved in acquiring the questions. The CBI confirmed that all 13 have been detained.
“The CBI has filed a charge sheet against these 13 individuals for crimes including conspiracy, cheating, and destruction of evidence,” the agency stated.
The accused could not be reached for comments while in custody. Exam leaks are not uncommon in India, and NEET faced similar issues in various regions back in 2024, though no re-test was called at that time.
The protests lasted several weeks and resulted in thousands gathering in the capital and other cities. Demonstrators faced tear gas and baton charges during a march on parliament. Following these events, India’s Supreme Court ordered that authorities refrain from taking harsh actions against protesters, mandated the release of minors arrested during the demonstrations, and instructed that surveillance footage be preserved amid claims of police brutality.
The protests have also pressured Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to propose a bill in parliament that aims to amend public examination laws. The proposed changes include longer prison sentences and increased fines for those involved in exam-related offenses.
If the amendments go through, those charged could face prison terms of five to ten years, along with fines reaching up to 50 million rupees (approximately $522,000).
This protest marked one of the biggest political challenges for Modi since he began his third term in 2024.
