The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak is nearing its legal endgame. Here is a recap of what has happened and what comes next.

What happened: the exam was taken on May 3, 2026, by over 22 lakh aspirants. A week later, the National Testing Agency cancelled it after 120 questions matched a circulating guess paper. The exam was re-held on June 21.

The probe: the CBI registered the case on May 12. Its first chargesheet on July 28 named 13 people, including three NTA-appointed subject experts. A final chargesheet naming 13 individuals, with three more arrested since, is expected within a week. No government or NTA officials have been implicated.

The fallout: nationwide student protests, the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25, and a sweeping NTA overhaul, with 50 staff and 600 subject experts removed and a four-tier paper-scrutiny system introduced.

What’s next: a Rouse Avenue court has given the CBI seven days, with the next hearing on October 7. The final chargesheet will detail forensic findings and the roles of the three newly arrested beneficiaries.