By Chhavi Pathak
Following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 over allegations of a paper leak, Telegram channels claiming access to leaked NEET re-examination papers have emerged online. Our investigation identified channels charging anywhere between INR. 5,000/- and INR. 10,00,000/- for access to purported question papers, often through split-payment arrangements requiring advance payment before the examination and the remaining amount after post-exam verification. The ecosystem also appeared highly coordinated, with backup channels and migration mechanisms designed to evade platform takedowns. These developments raise two significant concerns: the potential for large-scale financial scams targeting students and families, and concerns regarding the integrity and perceived credibility of the NEET re-examination process.
On May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled NEET-UG 2026 over allegations of a paper leak after investigators found evidence that several questions appearing similar to those in the medical entrance exam paper had been circulated before the exam.
While mapping the broader conversation around NEET 2026 on the Internet, we found a Telegram channel called the "NTA Official Chennal”. After observing the conversation on the “NTA Official Chennal”, we reviewed the channels promoted there, identified the terms commonly used to refer to the NEET re-examination and searched for them on Telegram. We found several channels and groups claiming to sell leaked re-examination papers.
The channel was advertising what it claimed was the question paper for the upcoming NEET re-examination, priced at INR 50,000/- per paper set. The group accepted payments in two tranches: INR. 25,000/- to be paid in advance, and INR. 25,000/- after the exam, presumably once the buyer verifies a match.
Figure 1: Telegram Channel “NTA Official channel” selling copies of “leaked” NEET re-examination papers
Posts on the channel claimed to be the only authentic source of the allegedly leaked paper. They called out other Telegram channels, labelling them as fraudulent operations that peddle fake papers
Figure 2: Post on “NTA Official channel” calling out telegram users for selling fake papers
Messages on the channel also claimed that the papers they had sold had been proven accurate over the past five years. They provided pictures of the past five years’ papers as evidence for this claim. While these claims are difficult to verify, they raise concerns about the integrity of the NEET examinations conducted in the past five years.
Figure 3: Post on “NTA Official channel” claiming that papers they have sold over the past five years have proven to be legitimate
Many of these channels adopted an openly confrontational tone toward authorities. One channel issued a direct challenge to the NTA, stating: “Catch us if you can… your security can’t do anything to us.” Another framed exam security as an “illusion,” claiming that leak systems operate “months in advance” and are “10,000 steps ahead.”
Figure 4: Posts claiming that the NTA cannot stop the NEET re-examination paper from being leaked
Channels also baited individuals into paying for the papers being sold by them, by sharing “sure-shot” questions free of cost, while other channels and groups said that they’d release one slot of papers for free for the first 10 - 25 students to build trust.
Figure 5: “sure-shot” questions and free papers for first 25 students
Nearly all the channels we found appear to maintain alternate channels and groups to migrate to in case the primary channel is deleted or taken down. Messages are routinely sent to direct users to these secondary channels, accompanied by links and warnings that “papers cannot be shared in public channels.”
Figure 6: Backup accounts and private channels
The emergence of this Telegram ecosystem raises two primary concerns. First, there is potential for widespread financial exploitation. Students and their families, already under the duress of having to take the exam again, are being induced to pay anywhere from a few thousand rupees to several lakhs for access to so-called “leaked” papers.
Second, there may be a possibility that the NEET re-examination paper has been leaked. Even if one of these networks is genuine, it raises concerns regarding the integrity of the examination. However, if all the claims made on these telegram channels are fraudulent, their scale and visibility could still create reputational and perception challenges for the NEET exam and the National Testing Agency.
Taken together, these risks demand urgent attention. There is a need to expand the scope of the ongoing investigation to include digital networks accessible on Telegram channels that actively solicit buyers for re-examination papers, and to coordinate institutional action to mitigate the risk of another leak or potential financial fraud.