Story Content

The NEET-UG 2026 scandal rocked India's medical aspirants after the exam held on May 3 was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 following massive leak allegations. At the heart of the conspiracy is Professor PV Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer from Pune, arrested by the CBI as the alleged kingpin.

Investigations reveal Kulkarni, who had involvement in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency, exploited his access to leak questions. In the last week of April, along with associate Manisha Waghmare, he reportedly conducted special coaching sessions at his Pune residence. Students were allegedly given key questions or dictated content that matched the actual paper, particularly in chemistry.

The leaked material, often circulated as a "guess paper" containing hundreds of questions, spread through WhatsApp groups and coaching networks in Rajasthan's Sikar, Haryana, Maharashtra, and beyond. A handwritten version was scanned into PDFs and sold for lakhs to aspirants. A whistleblower chemistry teacher in Sikar exposed the match after the exam, triggering probes.

CBI has made multiple arrests across states, uncovering a multi-crore racket. The leak led to student protests, suicides, and demands for systemic reform. A re-exam is scheduled, with NTA promising stricter security, including a shift to computer-based testing in the future. The case highlights vulnerabilities in India's high-stakes exam system.

This remains under active investigation.