The cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination on Tuesday, following allegations of paper leaks and malpractice, has reignited scrutiny of the 2024 controversy that cast doubt on the integrity of India's medical entrance exam system. The earlier scandal included an alleged cheating racket linked to examination centres in Gujarat's Godhra region.
Parallels with NEET-UG 2024
Similar to the current situation, the NEET-UG 2024 examination triggered nationwide concern after reports of paper leaks, grace marks, suspicious scores, and organised cheating emerged from multiple states. While Bihar and Jharkhand were key centres in the paper leak probe, Gujarat's "Godhra angle" also drew significant attention.
Details of the Gujarat Case
The Gujarat case involved the Jay Jalaram Education Trust, which operates Jay Jalaram School near Godhra in Panchmahal district and Jay Jalaram International School in Kheda district. Both institutions served as NEET-UG 2024 examination centres. Officials revealed that candidates were promised higher scores in exchange for payments ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
According to the investigation, students were allegedly instructed to answer only questions they were confident about and leave the remaining OMR circles blank. Investigators alleged that the accused planned to use the gap before answer sheets were sealed and dispatched to fill in additional answers. The probe also found that several candidates from outside Gujarat had allegedly changed their addresses to Gujarat locations, selected Godhra as their exam centre, and opted for Gujarati as the examination medium. Investigators suspected this was done to route candidates to centres allegedly linked to the accused.
Legal Proceedings
The case was initially investigated by Gujarat Police before being transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which arrested trust chairman Dixit Patel and others in 2024. The matter resurfaced in April 2025 after the Gujarat High Court refused to discharge Patel from the case, observing that investigation material disclosed prima facie evidence and "grave suspicion" warranting trial. Patel denied involvement and argued there was no direct evidence linking him to the alleged conspiracy.
Supreme Court's Previous Stance
The 2024 controversy eventually reached the Supreme Court, which observed that the sanctity of the examination process had been affected, though it declined to order a nationwide re-test. With fresh allegations now surfacing in NEET-UG 2026, concerns over exam integrity and the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) have again come into focus.
This development underscores persistent vulnerabilities in the examination system and raises questions about measures to prevent future malpractices.
