NEET row: PM Modi announces setting up fast-track courts to expedite paper leak trials
New Delhi: Amid the NEET paper leak row, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government will set up fast-track courts to ensure quick trials and strict punishment for the accused.
In a post on his official X handle, the Prime Minister said, "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth." He added that he has directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps to establish fast-track courts for such cases.
Calling it an important step in the government's ongoing efforts to protect students' interests, Modi said, "Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared."
"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students. This is an important step in the series of decisions being taken by the government to safeguard the interests of students. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," Modi said in the post.
Earlier, calling the NEET paper leak a "ghor paap" (grave sin), the Prime Minister said all those involved in the case had been arrested, and 13 accused were currently in custody.
NEET cancelled
The NEET UG 2026 exam was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency and was held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in pen-and-paper mode. Over 22.7 lakh aspirants appeared for the examination this year. It took place across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, covering over 5,400 centres.
However, on May 12, 2026, the NTA declared the examination held on May 3 cancelled and subsequently announced a re-examination on June 21, 2026.
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.
In the aftermath of the exam cancellation, protests were held, with aspirants and members of the medical fraternity condemning NTA and the Education Ministry for the failure.
Due to the alleged controversy, the central government decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations. Based on the Centre's direction, the CBI registered an FIR in the case and so far arrested 13 people.
