Doctors' body urges PM Modi for strict action against culprits, CBT-based NEET exam amid paper leak row

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak and subsequent cancellation of the examination, a doctors' body has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding strict action against those involved, the establishment of a Fast-Track justice mechanism and immediate transition of NEET UG from the current pen-and-paper format to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) model similar to JEE Advanced.

In a letter, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations (FORDA), the largest representative body of resident doctors across India, called the cancellation of NEET UG 2026 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) following credible reports of a paper leak not merely an administrative failure but a moral and institutional catastrophe that has shattered the dreams, mental health, and years of relentless preparation of millions of young Indians.

On behalf of nearly 23 lakh aspiring medical students and their families who have once again been subjected to the catastrophic consequences of a compromised national medical entrance examination, NEET UG 2026, the association said that these are students who have sacrificed their youth, their social lives, and their families' financial resources, often spanning two to five years of rigorous preparation, only to see their futures held hostage by a network of unscrupulous elements operating with alarming impunity.

"This is not an isolated incident. Paper leaks in national examinations have become a recurring systemic failure, a pattern that exposes deep rot within the examination administration ecosystem. Each time, the response has been reactive rather than preventive, and the perpetrators have faced consequences that are neither swift nor severe enough to serve as a deterrent. The result is a thriving criminal industry around examination fraud, emboldened by institutional complacency and delayed justice," the letter read.

Therefore, the association, on behalf of the resident doctor community and in solidarity with the affected students, demanded exemplary punishment for culprits, establishment of a Fast-Track court for examination fraud cases, enactment of a stringent central law against examination fraud, immediate transition to online Computer-Based Testing (CBT) on the IIT-JEE/JEE Advanced Model and speedy re-examination with full transparency.

"FORDA strongly urges the establishment of dedicated fast-track courts to adjudicate cases of examination malpractice and fraud within a stipulated time frame of three months. FORDA strongly advocates transitioning NEET UG to a secure, Computer-Based Test (CBT) model, based on the robust framework used for JEE Advanced, conducted by the IITs. The pen-and-paper format of NEET, with its centralised physical question paper logistics, is structurally vulnerable to leaks. The IIT model has demonstrated over decades that large-scale national examinations can be conducted with integrity. There is no justification for NEET to continue in its current format," the association demanded.

"Sir, the medical profession begins with a vow to serve humanity. Yet, the very gateway into this noble profession is being corrupted year after year, eroding trust in meritocracy and demoralising an entire generation of aspiring doctors. FORDA believes that India's future healthcare workforce deserves better, and the nation's youth deserve a system that rewards hard work, not criminal networks. We appeal to your decisive leadership to treat this matter with the urgency and severity it commands," it added.

NEET cancelled:

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 12, 2026, declared the cancellation of the examination held on May 3 and subsequently announced that a re-exam will be held on dates that will be notified separately.

On its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the NTA posted, "In continuation of its press release dated 10 May 2026, the National Testing Agency wishes to inform candidates, parents, and members of the public of the following decisions taken in respect of NEET (UG) 2026. NTA had, on 8 May 2026, referred the matters then under consideration to the central agencies for independent verification and necessary action, consistent with its standing commitment to the fair, secure, and credible conduct of the national examinations entrusted to it. On the basis of the inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with the central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies and in order to ensure that there is transparency in the system, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately."

Also Read: NEET 2026 cancelled, re-exam soon: NTA

NTA further informed that the Government of India decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations after it declared to re-conduct the NEET UG 2026 examination soon. Based on the centre's direction, the CBI registered an FIR in the case.

This came in the backdrop of the probe by the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group, which reportedly found a “guess paper” containing more than 100 questions similar to those asked in the NEET UG examination. The question paper series under scrutiny has been described as a “guess paper” which reportedly contained around 410 questions. Out of these, nearly 120 questions are alleged to have appeared in the Biology and Chemistry sections of the examination.

The investigation has found that the leaked papers were circulated through WhatsApp and Telegram groups ahead of the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3. According to reports, the matter came to light after a Sikar-based MBBS student studying at a medical college in Kerala allegedly shared a PDF of a “guess paper” with his father on May 2. The father, who runs a PG accommodation facility in Sikar, reportedly circulated the document further to a chemistry and a biology teacher who identified the similarities in questions.

As the investigation widened, Rajasthan SOG and later the CBI uncovered what officials described as a multi-state network involving students, coaching-linked persons and middlemen. The alleged leak reportedly spread from Kerala and Rajasthan to Haryana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and other states. So far, around 15 to 16 people have been arrested or taken into custody in connection with the case, while nearly 45 people have been detained or questioned during the investigation.

Seeking action, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) filed a petition before the Supreme Court demanding the replacement of NTA. It urged the Apex Court to issue a direction to the Centre to either replace NTA or fundamentally restructure it "with a more robust, technologically advanced and autonomous body for conducting NEET.

The issue also led to massive protests and condemnation by the medical fraternity, who blamed the NTA and the government for failing to prevent another paper leak controversy in 2026. They have criticised the authorities for playing with the future of over 22 lakh aspirants who appeared for the exam and are again forced to re-appear.