Following the controversy surrounding the NEET exam, another blow has come to the education system with the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam due to a suspected question paper leak. Reports allege the paper was being sold on social media platform Telegram for exorbitant prices, ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
News outlet News 18 reported screenshots of the question paper being shared on Telegram groups before the exam. The Ministry of Education investigated and confirmed that the leaked questions matched the actual exam paper. Consequently, the ministry decided to cancel the exam to ensure fairness. The leak's origin remains unclear, though investigations point to Telegram as the platform where the questions were distributed. The Ministry of Education, already facing criticism over the NEET controversy, has handed over the investigation to the CBI. Additionally, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has formed a special team to probe the matter.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged shortcomings in the NTA's system, stating the leak occurred on the dark web. He explained that authorities discovered the leaked paper matched the actual exam on the day following the test. The minister emphasized the government's commitment to transparency and its decision to cancel the exam due to the irregularities. He also highlighted the challenges of monitoring platforms like Telegram.
