NTA Dismisses 47 Officials in NEET Paper Leak Crackdown; Criminal Cases to Be Registered

New Delhi, 24th July 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has dismissed 47 officials in connection with the ongoing crackdown following the NEET paper leak controversy. According to sources quoted by ANI, criminal cases will also be registered against the dismissed officials.

The action is part of a broader overhaul of the NTA aimed at strengthening the integrity and security of national-level examinations. Officials said additional reforms are expected in the coming days to improve the functioning of the examination body.

The move comes a day after the Central Government reshuffled two senior officials in the Ministry of Education. Authorities said the changes reflect the government’s efforts to restore public confidence in the examination system.

According to officials, the NTA will also revamp its outsourcing arrangements and introduce technological upgrades to make examinations more secure. The proposed reforms are intended to eliminate vulnerabilities that could lead to paper leaks and ensure a more robust testing mechanism.

The dismissal of the 47 officials came within 20 hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video message addressing the paper leak issue. In the video, released shortly after midnight on Thursday, the Prime Minister described paper leaks as a matter of grave concern for millions of students and their families.

Modi said the government had taken several steps over the past two-and-a-half months, including arresting those allegedly involved in the scam and conducting fresh examinations for nearly 22 lakh students to prevent the loss of an academic year. He also announced that fast-track courts would be established to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases.

The NEET paper leak controversy has triggered nationwide protests, including a month-long agitation by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Social activist Sonam Wangchuk recently ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving written assurances from the government on certain demands, while the issue has also led to repeated disruptions in Parliament.

The case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has conducted searches and investigations across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Delhi. So far, 13 people have been arrested, and the agency is expected to file its chargesheet soon.