Agency tells Supreme Court it has ordered CCTV audits, forensic reviews and new posts for 2026 re-exam as part of wider reforms

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has told the Supreme Court it has launched a package of structural and security reforms after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, saying CCTV audits, mock drills, forensic checks and new senior posts have been introduced ahead of the re-examination.

According to the affidavit filed in court on Friday, a High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) reviewed NEET-UG preparations at a meeting on April 17 and recommended a suite of measures to plug gaps before, during and after the test. The NTA said many of the recommendations are already in place or at an advanced stage of implementation for the re-exam scheduled later this year.

Tighter centre-level checks

The reforms include mandatory CCTV checks at all examination centres, with footage to be preserved for at least 90 days. The agency has also ordered detailed physical inspections of centres in the week leading up to exams, verification of power-backup systems and weather-based contingency plans, the affidavit said.

“Initial reports indicate the focus is on strengthening real-time monitoring and post-event forensic review,” a source familiar with the matter said, on condition of anonymity. The NTA also said emergency medical facilities will be required at identified larger centres, and that mock drills will be carried out to test readiness.

Forensic and post-exam reviews

In a notable change, the HPSC recommended routine forensic analysis of CCTV footage after examinations to identify anomalies or suspicious conduct that may not be apparent during live monitoring. The affidavit states the committee will reconvene after the re-examination to decide, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whether future NEET tests should move to a computer-based test (CBT) format or remain paper-and-pen (PPT).

Officials said the forensic audits aim to catch patterns — such as repeated camera blind spots, simultaneous irregular behaviour across centres or suspicious movement near exam halls — that would otherwise surface only after complaints. “These are additional layers of checks intended to create both deterrence and investigative capability,” an NTA official involved in operations told reporters.

Administrative restructuring

As part of broader governance reforms, the NTA has created 16 senior posts, adding director and joint-director level positions, and appointed two joint secretary-level officers as additional director generals to oversee technology operations and test security. A secretary-level officer assumed charge as director general of the NTA in March 2026, the affidavit added.

The agency said it has brought in experts from academic and administrative bodies — including IITs, the University Grants Commission (UGC), CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and IGNOU — to strengthen examination management and technical resilience.

State and district coordination

To tighten on-ground coordination, State-Level Coordination Committees (SLCCs) and District-Level Coordination Committees (DLCCs) were formed across the country. The NTA told the court that 18 SLCCs and 621 DLCCs were operational before the May 3 exam and comprise officials from local administration, police, intelligence agencies, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the testing agency.

The committees are intended to improve surveillance, logistics and rapid response during examinations, the NTA said. Local police and district administrations will oversee centre security while NIC teams assist with technical links and timely transfer of CCTV data.

Public reaction and significance

The NEET-UG 2026 leak and subsequent cancellation sparked widespread public concern and legal scrutiny, prompting petitions by groups including the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the United Doctors Front (UDF) seeking a structural overhaul of the examination body. Petitioners had argued that systemic lapses, not isolated incidents, were to blame.

Education experts said the NTA’s moves are aimed at restoring confidence but warned implementation will be key. “Policy changes matter only if executed consistently across thousands of centres,” said an education administrator who declined to be named. “Mock drills, forensic audits and state coordination can help, but transparency about findings will be crucial.”

What’s next

The HPSC is due to meet again after the re-examination to assess the effectiveness of the measures and recommend whether a permanent shift to a CBT model is warranted. The Supreme Court will continue to monitor progress through affidavits and hearings, according to registry filings.

With the re-exam looming, the NTA faces the twin task of demonstrating operational readiness on the ground and convincing students and stakeholders that the safeguards will prevent a repeat of the disruption that upended this year’s admission cycle.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has suspended senior physics lecturer Manisha Sanjay Havaldar following her arrest in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal. The move came hours after authorities detained her as the 11th accused in the case that has shaken the credibility of the country’s premier medical entrance examination.

Havaldar, who has been teaching at Seth Hiralal Saraswati Prashala in Pimpri Chinchwad since 1992, was reportedly appointed by the NTA as an expert for the examination process. Investigators claim she had direct access to the physics question paper and allegedly shared select questions with another accused, Manisha Mandhare, in April.

Teacher’s Long Association With Institution

School secretary Dr Satish Gawde confirmed that Havaldar holds an MSc and BEd and was scheduled to retire on June 30. Describing the development as a serious betrayal, Gawde said the institution has set up a high-level internal inquiry committee to examine the matter thoroughly.

“We have no prior information about her involvement in any such activities,” Gawde told reporters. He added that the school stands firmly with students and will extend full cooperation to investigating agencies.

Timeline of the Leak Investigation

The NEET-UG 2026 examination was held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 international centres, with nearly 2.3 million aspirants appearing for the test. Reports of irregularities surfaced on the evening of May 7, prompting the NTA to hand over the case to central agencies. The examination was officially cancelled on May 12, with a re-test announced later.

So far, 11 people have been arrested from multiple locations including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, Latur, and Ahilyanagar. Of these, seven are from Maharashtra, indicating the leak network may have strong regional links.

 Accused Had Access to Physics Paper

According to sources familiar with the probe, Havaldar’s role allegedly involved facilitating the leak of physics-related questions. Initial investigations suggest she passed on specific items to associates ahead of the exam, though the full extent of the conspiracy is still being unravelled.

The arrest has once again highlighted vulnerabilities in the question paper handling and expert vetting process managed by the NTA. Many educationists have called for stricter protocols and better background checks for individuals appointed as question paper experts or evaluators.

 Impact on Students and Parents

The cancellation of the exam has caused significant anxiety among students and their families. With lakhs of candidates preparing for months, the decision to conduct a re-examination has disrupted academic calendars and admission schedules for medical and dental courses.

Parents in Maharashtra, especially in Pune and surrounding areas, expressed disappointment over the unfolding scandal. Many feel the leak has undermined years of hard work by sincere students.

 NTA Opens Portal for Fee Refund

In a bid to address candidate concerns, the NTA opened a special portal on May 22 for NEET-UG 2026 aspirants to submit bank details for examination fee refunds. The window will remain open until 11:50 pm on May 27. Candidates are advised to provide accurate information to ensure timely processing.

This development comes amid growing demands for greater transparency and accountability from the testing agency.

 Broader Questions on Exam Security

The NEET paper leak case has triggered widespread debate on the security of competitive examinations in India. Education experts point out that repeated leaks in recent years point to systemic gaps that need urgent fixing. From question paper printing to transportation and expert involvement, every stage is now under scrutiny.

Central agencies are continuing their investigation, with more arrests expected in the coming days. The focus remains on tracing the full chain of the leak and identifying possible beneficiaries.

As the nation awaits the re-examination date, the suspension of Havaldar and the ongoing probe serve as a stark reminder of the challenges in conducting large-scale, high-stakes tests with complete integrity. Students, meanwhile, hope for a fair and leak-proof process in the upcoming re-test.

Satire platform Cockroach Janata Party alleges targeted crackdown as digital handles face disruptions amid massive growth

In a swift escalation of a bizarre digital standoff, the official website of the newly formed 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP) went completely down on Saturday morning. The platform, which originated as a satirical response to a senior judicial remark, became inaccessible around 9:00 AM, displaying a standard “site can’t be reached” error message.

The digital blackout follows closely on the heels of a massive online campaign launched by the group demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent NEET exam paper leak controversy.

Digital platforms go dark

CJP founder Abhijit Dipke took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm the development, directly accusing the central establishment of heavy-handedness. Dipke revealed that the platform had amassed significant traction before going offline, claiming that nearly 10 lakh users had registered as members on the site.

"Over 6 lakh people had already signed our online petition demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan," Dipke stated in an online broadcast. "Why is the government so incredibly scared of cockroaches? They can take down our web servers, but cockroaches never die."

The website outage was not the only disruption reported by the group. Earlier in the day, at around 8:25 AM, the party handles claimed their official Instagram account had been compromised and rendered inaccessible to administrators, though the public profile page remained visibly online.

Exponential social media surge

Despite the technical roadblocks, the group's digital footprint has exploded over the last 48 hours. By Saturday afternoon, the Cockroach Janata Party's Instagram following skyrocketed to over 2.2 crore users. Simultaneously, their primary communication channel on X crossed the 200,000-follower milestone.

The sudden surge in popularity has altered the ground reality for Dipke's family, residing in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Speaking to a regional Marathi news channel, Dipke’s parents expressed profound anxiety regarding their son's sudden political visibility and the looming threat of legal action.

"It is completely natural for us to feel terrified looking at the current atmosphere in the country," his father, Bhagwan Dipke, told reporters, adding that the family has spent sleepless nights worrying about potential arrest warrants. His mother, Anita, noted that they only learned of the digital movement through neighbors and preferred that their son focus on his professional career.

Allegations of foreign footprints

As the digital movement gained momentum, critics alleged that the massive follower base was artificial, claiming that only 9 percent of the interaction originated from within India, with the bulk coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Western nations.

The CJP leadership vehemently rejected these claims on Friday night, releasing internal analytics screenshots indicating that 96 percent of their actual target audience is base-located right inside India. The group has also had to navigate the permanent suspension of its original X account earlier this week, forcing them to operate under a backup page titled "Cockroach Is Back."

Roots in judicial commentary

The unusual political front traces its origin back to mid-May. During a courtroom hearing, remarks were reportedly passed comparing hyper-active, unemployed youth on social media to "cockroaches" who constantly critique state institutions.

While the judiciary later clarified that the statement was contextually misrepresented, Dipke capitalised on the phrase the very next day, launching the Cockroach Janata Party as a formal digital initiative representing the "lazy, unemployed, and chronically online" demographic.

Former AAP strategist at helm

The standard of execution behind the viral campaign stems from professional experience. Dipke, 30, is a seasoned digital media strategist who previously managed viral meme-based campaign content for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) between 2020 and 2022, notably during the Delhi Assembly elections.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Relations at Boston University in the United States, Dipke has been running the digital operation from abroad. Meanwhile, the domestic popularity of the name has triggered a corporate rush on the ground, with three separate commercial trademark applications already filed with the Trademark Registry portal to secure rights over the "Cockroach Janata Party" brand name for political and social services. Legal representatives for the group state they are exploring alternative web hosting options to restore the main campaign portal by Sunday evening.

CBI Arrests Latur Coaching Director in NEET-UG Paper Leak Case

Leaked question paper found on phone as agency nabs 10th accused

The Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) on Monday arrested Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, the director of a prominent chemistry coaching centre in Latur, marking the tenth arrest in the ongoing probe into the NEET-UG paper leak. Highly placed sources in the agency confirmed that a leaked copy of the examination paper was recovered directly from Motegaonkar's mobile phone during a high-stakes search operation conducted late Sunday evening.

Organised racket operating across states

Initial reports indicate that Motegaonkar was an active part of a highly organised syndicate involved in the illegal procurement and circulation of national-level competitive exam material. According to officials, the accused and his associates managed to get their hands on both the question paper and the answer key as early as April 23, following which the material was shared with a select group of individuals for hefty sums of money.

The arrest followed an intense eight-hour questioning session at Motegaonkar’s residence on May 15. The accused runs Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC), a major coaching hub with a presence across Latur and six other districts in Maharashtra.

Search operations yield incriminating digital evidence

On Sunday, federal investigators raided the main corporate office of RCC, seizing a cache of documents, hard drives, and electronic communication devices. Local authorities confirmed that the coaching institute commands an annual turnover of roughly ₹100 crore, raising suspicions about the financial scale of the racket.

"The CBI suspects that multiple medical aspirants were given covert access to the leaked questions right inside the coaching facility premises," a source close to the development said under condition of anonymity. Investigators are also looking into a network of local doctors in Latur who allegedly purchased the papers for their children.

Inside access via paper-setting committee

The investigation has thrown up startling revelations regarding the breach within the National Testing Agency (NTA). The federal agency claims that Manisha Mandhare, who was recently arrested, was part of the NTA’s confidential paper-setting panel, giving her direct access to the final question set.

Before the scheduled exam date, Mandhare reportedly organised exclusive, closed-door coaching sessions in Pune, where students were instructed to memorise specific questions from the Botany and Zoology sections. The CBI has so far arrested nine other accused from a network stretching across Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar, while a fresh raid was conducted at a residential property in Nanded on Sunday.

Political storm erupts over repeated leaks

Meanwhile, the development has triggered a major political row in New Delhi. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi took to X on Sunday to hit out at the central government over its handling of national competitive exams. Gandhi pointed out that while the NEET 2024 paper leak faced severe criticism without any accountability, the repetition of the crisis with the NEET 2026 paper leak represents a systemic failure.

He questioned why the Union Education Minister has not been dismissed from his cabinet position despite back-to-back security lapses that continue to jeopardise the future of millions of students across the country.

Restructuring at NTA and upcoming re-exam

In a bid to control the damage, the Central Government has initiated a major administrative overhaul within the NTA. Four senior bureaucrats have been inducted into the testing body to clean up the system. IRS officers Akash Jain and Aditya Rajendra Bhojgadhia have assumed charges as Joint Directors, while Anuja Bapat and Ruchita Vij have been posted as Joint Secretaries for a five-year tenure.

The NEET-UG exam, which saw nearly 23 lakh students appear across 551 Indian cities and 14 overseas centres on May 3, was officially cancelled on May 12 after irregularities were detected. The NTA has now scheduled a nationwide re-examination for June 21.

Apex court moved for dissolution of testing body

As the CBI widens its net, the legal battle has reached the steps of the highest court. The United Doctors Front (UDF) has approached the Supreme Court of India through advocates Ritu Renival and Mahendra Kumawat, filing a petition that demands the complete dissolution of the NTA.

The petitioners have urged the court to direct the Parliament to enact a new law creating an independent, foolproof National Testing Body. The plea also seeks the immediate setting up of a court-monitored committee to oversee upcoming national entrance tests to restore public trust in the examination system.

NEET Paper Leak: NSUI, Youth Congress Stage Dual Protests in Delhi, Demand Pradhan’s Resignation

Student organisations rally outside NTA office and Education Minister’s residence over alleged exam irregularities and cancellation of NEET-UG 2026

Hundreds of student activists staged coordinated protests in two locations across the national capital on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the removal of the National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

The demonstrations, led by Congress-affiliated student wings, came amid growing anger over repeated examination cancellations and what protesters called a “systematic compromise” of young candidates’ futures.

Protest outside NTA headquarters

Around 11 am, members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) gathered outside the NTA’s Okhla office. Led by NSUI national president Vinod Jakhar, the crowd tried to push past police barricades, leading to brief scuffles with paramilitary personnel deployed at the spot.

“We will not leave until the NTA is abolished,” shouted one protester as others raised placards reading “Merit over mafias” and “Ban the NTA.”

According to officials at the scene, the crowd swelled to nearly 300 within an hour. The protesters attempted to force their way into the premises but were pushed back by a combination of Delhi Police and central paramilitary forces. No major injuries have been reported so far.

March to minister’s residence

Roughly 12 kilometres away, another group of demonstrators gathered outside Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s official residence on Teen Murti Marg. Youth Congress members, separate from the NSUI contingent, raised slogans demanding Pradhan’s immediate resignation.

Witnesses said the crowd remained largely peaceful but vocal. “The minister cannot wash his hands off this. The paper leak has destroyed months of preparation for lakhs of students,” said a Youth Congress office-bearer who did not wish to be named.

The two protests, though organised separately, shared identical demands: a high-level investigation into the alleged leak, cancellation of the controversial exam cycle, and accountability at the top levels of the NTA.

Slogans and barricades

At the Okhla site, the atmosphere grew tense around midday when several NSUI members attempted to climb over police barricades. Paramilitary personnel immediately intervened, pushing the protesters back. No arrests were made immediately, but police officials said they were monitoring the situation.

Slogans raised included “Education Minister, resign,” “NTA Director General, resign,” and “Give justice to NEET students.” Former Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ronak Khatri was also present at the NTA protest, according to student leaders at the venue.

Security stepped up

Authorities had deployed additional forces in both locations since early morning. Paramilitary personnel stood guard outside the NTA office, while Delhi Police maintained a heavy presence around Teen Murti Marg.

A senior police officer told reporters that security arrangements were made after intelligence inputs suggested large mobilisations. “We are allowing peaceful protest but will not tolerate any attempt to breach law and order,” the officer said on condition of anonymity.

Background of the controversy

The protests follow allegations that the NEET-UG 2026 question paper was leaked hours before the examination held earlier this month. The NTA, which conducts the test, has faced intense scrutiny over repeated irregularities. Several student groups have accused the agency of mismanagement and lack of transparency.

The education ministry has not yet issued an official statement on Saturday’s protests. Calls to the NTA spokesperson went unanswered at the time of filing this report.

With the next hearing on the matter expected in the Supreme Court later this month, student leaders have threatened to escalate their agitation if their demands are not met.