With less than a week to go for the NEET-UG re-exam on June 21, fresh rumors about another alleged paper leak have started spreading on social media. However, the Center moved quickly to dismiss the allegations, with the fact-checking unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) describing them as “fake”.
The clarification came after a social media user flagged posts claiming that the NEET-UG question paper for the re-examination had already been leaked.
Reacting to the viral content, fact-checking website PIB said: “A question paper is circulating on social media claiming that NEET paper has been leaked again. This claim is fake.”
“Candidates are advised not to trust, share or rely on any unverified exam-related content. Report suspicious content related to the Government of India to PIBFactCheck,” the agency said.
PIB also urged students to rely only on official sources for updates and information related to exams.
Earlier in the day, the National Testing Agency (NTA) also quashed the paper leak claims, describing them as “fake”.
A retest was requested after the May exam was cancelled
The clarification comes in the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the original NEET-UG exam conducted on May 3. The test was later canceled after authorities discovered that the question paper had been leaked before the test.
The alleged violation sparked widespread anger among students and opposition parties, prompting the government to order a new inspection on June 21.
In a bid to ease apprehensions among candidates, the authorities have also announced an additional 15 minutes during the re-test to allow students to complete the formalities and fill in the required details.
The Minister of Education reassures students
As speculation continued online, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought to reassure candidates that the re-examination would be conducted smoothly and fairly.
“Through all of you, I appeal to all NEET students to remain confident and focus on their studies. The re-test will be conducted in a fair and well-organized manner,” Pradhan told reporters in Bhopal on Friday.
The cancellation of the May exam has left many aspirants anxious about having to prepare for the exam again, especially those who thought they did well the first time.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the paper leak is still ongoing. By May, 13 people had been arrested, most of them from Maharashtra.
The agency said that its teams are continuing their efforts to determine the source of the leak and reveal how the question paper was circulated before the exam. Investigators are also examining whether any insiders linked to the National Testing Agency (NTA) played a role in the hack.
