3 weeks ago
NEET paper leak: witness cites flaws in NTA expert selection
NEET is a very important exam that students in India take to get into medical school.
Some NEET question papers were leaked before students took the exam.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, has been looking into who leaked the papers.
A physics teacher who helps prepare exam questions spoke to the CBI.
He said the National Testing Agency, or NTA, had no official rules for choosing the experts who make the papers.
He said experts were usually chosen because someone who already worked there recommended them.
He also said the teachers did not receive written appointment letters and that there was little supervision over them.
He believed this made it easier for someone to leak the questions.
The CBI has filed a chargesheet listing 360 witnesses and 13 accused people.
Two of the accused, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar and P V Kulkarni, have been arrested.
The CBI chargesheet in the NEET paper leak case names 13 accused and lists 360 witnesses, filed before a Delhi fast-track court on July 28.
A Maharashtra-based physics expert told the CBI that the NTA had no formally prescribed eligibility criteria or written conditions for selecting subject experts.
The witness said expert selection depended largely on recommendations from people already associated with the agency, with no written appointment letters or documented procedures.
Arrested Pune teacher Manisha Sanjay Havaldar translated the Physics Set-IF paper from Marathi to English on March 14; proofreading was done by the witness on March 21.
Retired lecturer P V Kulkarni, arrested in Pune on May 15, allegedly conspired to distribute leaked NEET question papers.
- Who
- The CBI, the NTA, an unnamed Maharashtra-based physics expert witness, and arrested teachers Manisha Sanjay Havaldar and P V Kulkarni.
- What
- The CBI filed a chargesheet in the NEET paper leak case, with a witness alleging the NTA lacked formal criteria for selecting subject experts and had weak monitoring.
- Where
- Before a fast-track court in Delhi; the events and arrests centered in Maharashtra, including Pune.
- When
- The chargesheet was filed on July 28; Havaldar was arrested on May 22 and Kulkarni on May 15.
- Why
- To establish how the NEET question paper was leaked and to highlight what the witness called systemic deficiencies in the NTA's paper preparation process.
Key facts
- Investigation agency
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Chargesheet filed
- July 28, before a Delhi fast-track court
- Accused named in chargesheet
- 13
- Witnesses listed in chargesheet
- 360
- Key arrests
- Manisha Sanjay Havaldar (May 22), P V Kulkarni (May 15)
- Leaked paper detail
- Physics Set-IF translated from Marathi to English on March 14
- Experts brought in via references
- 40-50 teachers through one Chemistry expert's recommendations
Quotes
Maharashtra-based Physics Expert
Physics expert involved in NEET question‑paper preparation for central entrance bodies
“"Existing experts could recommend teachers from subjects such as Physics, Chemistry and Biology for roles including item writing, moderation and translation."”
indianexpress.com
“"I believe there is insufficient supervision and control over the individuals engaged in these roles."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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