India's NTA Dismisses 47 Officials Over NEET Paper Leak

A leak of the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) question paper sparked nationwide protests and intense scrutiny of the National Testing Agency (NTA). In response, the agency terminated the services of 47 officials and signaled that legal and criminal proceedings will be launched against several of those dismissed. The move coincided with a reshuffle of senior education bureaucrats, including the transfer of Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi.

The government announced further reforms: a draft amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, the creation of fast‑track courts for paper‑leak cases, and a review of NTA’s outsourcing model. Recruitment ads were issued for new senior positions, and it was revealed that only about 11% of NTA staff are permanent, with the remainder on contract or outsourced.

Separately, the Central Bureau of Investigation reported that no evidence was found against Sanjeev Kumar (alias Sanjeev Mukhiya), a key accused in the 2024 NEET paper‑leak investigation, effectively giving him a clean chit. These actions aim to restore confidence in India's high‑stakes entrance examinations, which affect millions of students each year.