The question paper for the UGC-NET exam that was held Tuesday was leaked 48 hours earlier and sold on the dark web and encrypted social media platforms for Rs 6 lakh, sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation told NDTV. The NET exam had been voided by the Education Ministry – already taking flak over the NEET-UG test – that cited input from a federal anti-cybercrime unit.
Sources said the source of the leak, however, is unclear at this time. The agency will work with the NTA or the National Testing Agency, which is the central body that conducts competitive exams.
The role of coaching centres – in which thousands of aspirants enrol, at great cost, in hope of cracking exams like NET, NEET, and the civil service entrance tests – in several states is also being investigated, sources said, explaining CBI officers could visit a few in person.
The CBI filed its first FIR, or first information report, in this case on Thursday, in which it accused as yet unidentified persons based on the ministry’s complaint. The ministry had said information indicates “prima facie that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised”.
On Thursday, hours after the UGC-NET was voided – sources said the authorities believed a large-scale corruption racket is behind the leaked papers. Given this concerns, sources said officials charged with the exam’s conduct, including those who set question papers, would be probed.
The officials likely to be investigated range from academics who set the papers and those who evaluate answers to officials who edited, or checked, the papers. Sources said two to three sets of each question paper had been prepared.
The role of officials who print each paper will be examined, as will that of those who take the printed documents to examination centres. The role of the latter will be scrutinised, as this person has access to all question papers.
After the exam was scrapped, students protested on university campuses across the country, claiming they had flagged paper leaks last week, days before the exam, but no action was taken.
Students at Lucknow University said at least one paper had been leaked and was available for just Rs 5,000. This, they said, had been circulated via WhatsApp and Telegram groups from June 16.
UGC-NET refers to the University Grants Commission’ National Eligibility Test – a qualifying exam for appointments to professorial posts in colleges and universities, as well as fellowships.
Over 11 lakh students had registered for the exam.
