According to Central Bureau of Investigation sources who spoke to NDTV, the question paper for the UGC-NET exam, which was held on Tuesday, was leaked 48 hours earlier and sold for ₹ 6 lakh on the dark web and encrypted social media platforms. The Education Ministry, which was already facing criticism for the NEET-UG exam, had cancelled the NET exam, citing advice from a federal anti-cybercrime unit.
However, according to sources, it’s currently unknown where the leak originated. The National Testing Agency, or NTA, is the main organization that administers competitive examinations, and the agency will collaborate with them.
According to sources, the role of coaching centers—where thousands of applicants enroll at great expense in the hopes of passing exams like the civil service entrance exams, NET, and NEET—is also being looked into in a number of states. CBI officers may even visit a few of these centers in person.
The CBI accused as-yet-unidentified individuals in its first FIR, or first information report, filed on Thursday in response to the ministry’s complaint. The ministry stated that there is “prima facie evidence that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised” from the information provided.
