From NEET UG To REET: A Look At Paper Leak Cases Beyond Telegram | Education and Career News
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Apart from telegram, what are the other ways competitive exam paper leaks has happened in India over the past few years?
NEET UG Re-Test 2026 will be held from 2 PM to 5:15 PM on June 21. (File Photo)
Ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, the central government has decided to temporarily ban Telegram until June 22. Telegram has also been directed to disable the ability to edit messages already sent in India till June 30. The government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) argue that this will curb fake paper leaks, rumors, and organised gangs that defraud candidates. However, the question is: will simply banning Telegram solve the serious problem of paper leaks?
Over the years, not just NEET, exams like SSC CGL, REET, UPTET, UGC-NET, and police recruitment tests have seen question paper leaks. It is important to understand the real issue. Paper leaks happen in two stages. First, someone gains illegal access to the question paper or exam material. Second, that material is distributed to a large number of people. So, how did the leaks happen?
Question Papers Stolen
Take the Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility Test (REET) 2021. The paper was leaked even before exam day. The REET 2021 question paper was allegedly stolen from the Shiksha Sankul campus in Jaipur prior to the examination. Investigations suggested that someone with early access, possibly at the printing or handling stage, managed to get the paper out. From there, it was copied and passed along.
Sealed Trunks Opened
In the NEET 2024 scandal, investigators found that sealed trunks containing question papers were opened before the exam at certain centres. With the help of insiders, papers were taken out, scanned, and shared with select candidates by middlemen. A civil engineer named Pankaj Kumar used a sophisticated tool kit to tamper with the hinges of the digital trunks, extract a paper, photograph the pages, and reseal it undetected. The photos were sent to a guest house where a group of MBBS student “solvers” from premier colleges rapidly solved the paper. Candidates paid between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh to memorise the answers overnight.
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Online Exam Papers
Not all leaks involve physical papers anymore.
The SSC Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam, conducted online, brought a new kind of controversy. Allegations pointed to possible manipulation of computer systems or unauthorised access to exam data.
Similarly, the UGC-NET 2024 exam was cancelled amid concerns that the paper may have been accessed before the test and circulated through digital networks.
via WhatsApp And Other Apps
Even if the paper survives printing, the next weak point is its journey. In the Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test (UPTET) 2021, the paper was leaked on the very morning of the exam. Somewhere between storage and distribution, it was accessed. Within hours, photos of the question paper were circulating on WhatsApp. By the time students reached their centres, the exam was already compromised – and eventually cancelled. During probe it surfaced that the TET paper found in the possession of the accused had matched completely with the one which was to be given to the examinees in the first shift.
ALSO READ | India Blocks Telegram Ahead Of NEET Re-Exam: 5 Reasons Why JEE, UPSC Tests Don’t Need Such Steps
WhatsApp is India’s largest messaging platform. It has more than 850 million users in India. Features such as group chats, communities, broadcast channels, and file sharing make it extremely influential.
Instagram is no longer just a photo and video sharing app; its direct messages, group chats, and story features enable a wide range of communication. India reportedly has around 390 to 410 million Instagram users.
Facebook Messenger is still used by millions. Platforms like Signal are gaining popularity for private conversations due to features like end-to-end encryption and disappearing messages. Some student groups also use Discord. Other platforms like ShareChat and Josh too have become increasingly popular in small towns and rural areas.
The Real Battle Is Exam Security
If a question paper escapes from the exam centre, printing press, transportation chain, or any internal network, dozens of digital platforms are available to circulate it. Therefore, while action against such platforms may be necessary, it cannot solve the problem on its own.
Preventing paper leaks requires a strong exam security system. From ensuring the security of question papers, and monitoring exam centres, to tracking data, and real-time surveillance of suspicious activity, strict action against leaking networks are the most effective measures.
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