Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP from Raebareli, has raised serious allegations regarding the NEET UG 2026 examination. In a post on X, he claimed that the question paper was leaked on WhatsApp 42 hours before the scheduled exam, affecting over 22 lakh students. He described the examination as compromised and stated that the future of aspirants had been impacted.
Rahul Gandhi's Allegations
According to his post, the NEET examination had effectively become an auction, with alleged sale of questions on messaging platforms ahead of the exam. He also referred to claims of 89 paper leaks over 10 years and 48 re-examinations, stating that repeated assurances had been followed by silence. He expressed solidarity with the affected students.
Investigation by Special Operations Group
The Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group (SOG) is investigating allegations that a question set circulated before NEET UG 2026 contained material closely matching the examination paper. Reports indicate that around 120 Chemistry questions aligned with the test. Additional Director General Vishal Bansal confirmed that the agency is examining a 'guess paper' of around 410 questions that reportedly circulated 15 days to one month before the examination. No arrests have been made in connection with this specific aspect yet.
Question Bank Circulation and Pricing
Investigators have traced the alleged question bank to a medical student from Churu studying in Kerala. The material was reportedly passed through associates in Sikar on May 1 and later circulated via a paying guest operator to coaching-linked networks across states. Officials are also examining claims that the document was sold for up to Rs 5 lakh two days before the examination and for around Rs 30,000 on the night prior. Digital messages marked 'Forwarded many times' have been recovered during the investigation.
Arrests Made
The Special Operations Group has arrested 13 suspects from Dehradun, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu. Many of them are linked to counselling and admission services, including a Sikar-based consultancy operator near a coaching institute on Piprali Road.
NTA Response
The National Testing Agency (NTA) stated that it received information on May 7 regarding alleged irregularities in NEET UG 2026 and shared inputs with central agencies. The NTA advised candidates to avoid rumours while verification continues. Weeks after the examination conducted on May 3, 2026, the NTA reiterated that it had shared all relevant inputs with central agencies for examination. Officials said the process of verifying alleged leaks, circulation chains, and digital evidence remains ongoing, with multiple agencies coordinating to establish the authenticity of claims.
