CJP's NEET Protest: A Look Back At India's Biggest Examination Crises Since 2015

India's examination system has repeatedly faced large-scale crises over the past decade. Incidents of paper leaks and administrative failures have triggered nationwide student protests, court interventions, exam cancellations, and re-examinations across multiple years.

The most recent controversy is the NEET-UG 2026 examination. It has once again placed the issue of exam integrity at the centre of national debate.

NEET-UG 2026: Latest Nationwide Examination Crisis

The NEET-UG 2026 examination was conducted on May 3, 2026, for more than 22 lakh candidates across India. Soon after the exam, allegations surfaced that "guess papers" and question-paper-like material had been circulating on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram before the examination.

As the controversy intensified, the situation escalated into nationwide protests led by student groups, including NSUI and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Demonstrations were reported in Delhi, Jaipur, Bhopal, Hyderabad, and several other cities.

Protesters gathered in large numbers at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and outside the Ministry of Education, demanding strict accountability from the National Testing Agency (NTA). The groups demanded the resignation of the education minister and the complete restructuring of the examination body responsible for conducting national-level tests.

The examination was cancelled on May 12, 2026, affecting the entire cohort of over 22 lakh aspirants. Following the cancellation, investigations were handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Rajasthan's Special Operations Group (SOG) conducted parallel investigations and arrested individuals suspected of being involved in paper leak networks. These arrests included people who were linked to coaching-based networks and alleged paper circulation routes connected to regions such as Sikar in Rajasthan.

Authorities also reported coordinated operations in multiple states involving exam-related fraud networks.

A re-examination was later conducted on June 21, 2026, under strict security arrangements. This included enhanced monitoring and surveillance mechanisms at examination centres.

On the same day, social media platforms saw renewed claims of paper leaks. However, the National Testing Agency officially rejected these claims and described them as misinformation intended to create panic among students.

AIPMT 2015: Large-Scale Cheating Network And Supreme Court Cancellation

Earlier in 2015, a similar large-scale controversy emerged with the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), which was conducted on May 3, 2015. The examination was found to be compromised by a highly organised cheating network that operated across several states.

Investigations revealed that question paper solutions were allegedly transmitted to candidates with the help of Bluetooth-enabled devices hidden inside their clothes. It was a coordinated system where, although candidates were present in the examination centres, external operators supplied answers to them remotely.

Reports indicated that candidates paid extremely high amounts to the network. The amount ranged from approximately ₹30 lakh to ₹75 lakh to secure guaranteed admission through the racket.

The cheating network operated across Haryana, Rajasthan, and other states, with one of the major hubs traced to a resort operation in Behror, Rajasthan. Police investigations uncovered large-scale coordination between facilitators and medical aspirants.

Following the investigation, the Supreme Court of India cancelled the entire examination on June 15, 2015, stating that the integrity of the examination process had been fully compromised. It observed that it was no longer possible to distinguish between genuine and unfair beneficiaries.

A re-test was conducted on July 25, 2015. The case led to major changes in national examination security systems. Thereafter, strict dress codes, the removal of electronic accessories, biometric verification, and increased surveillance at examination centres were implemented.

SSC CGL 2018: Delhi Protests And Demand For Investigation

In 2018, another major crisis unfolded during the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) examination cycle.

During the February 2018 examination process, question papers and answer keys began circulating on social media platforms while the examination was still ongoing. Students alleged that organised cheating networks and digital assistance mechanisms were being used in certain centres.

The situation escalated rapidly when the SSC initially dismissed the complaints as rumours, which eventually led to widespread anger among aspirants.

On February 27, 2018, thousands of candidates gathered outside the SSC headquarters at CGO Complex in New Delhi and launched an indefinite sit-in protest. The protest became one of the largest student-led recruitment agitations in the country.

Demonstrations spread beyond Delhi to major coaching hubs such as Patna and Prayagraj. Protesters remained at the site for days despite difficult conditions. Some students shaved their heads as a symbolic protest, while others wore black bands and engaged in continuous sit-ins to highlight their grievances.

The demands of the protesters included a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, Supreme Court monitoring of the investigation, and the cancellation of the examination.

Following sustained pressure, the government ordered a CBI investigation into the matter, and multiple arrests were made in connection with cheating networks and irregularities.

The case became a turning point in recruitment examination monitoring systems in India, particularly for computer-based examinations.

RRB Recruitment Protests 2022: Rail Blockades And Policy Reversal

In 2022, large-scale protests broke out in connection with Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) examinations, specifically the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) and Group D recruitment processes.

The recruitment drive had been announced in 2019 for more than 1.4 lakh posts, attracting over 2.4 crore applicants, making it one of the largest recruitment processes in India. However, delays caused by administrative issues and the COVID-19 pandemic stretched the process over several years.

When the NTPC CBT-1 results were released in January 2022, students raised concerns about what they described as "multi-counting" in the shortlisting process. They alleged that the same candidates were being counted multiple times across different categories, reducing opportunities for others.

Additionally, the introduction of a second-stage CBT-2 for Group D recruitment created further dissatisfaction among aspirants, who argued that the structure had been changed after years of waiting.

The protests quickly escalated into railway track blockades in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, particularly in cities such as Patna, Gaya, and Prayagraj. In some locations, incidents of arson and vandalism were reported, including damage to railway property.

Police responded with force, including the use of tear gas, water cannons, and baton charges. In certain areas, authorities also conducted operations in student hostels to detain protesters. This led to the declaration of a Bihar Bandh on January 28, 2022, which was backed by student groups and political organisations.

Following the widespread agitation, the Ministry of Railways suspended certain parts of the recruitment process and formed a high-level committee to review grievances. More than 3 lakh representations from candidates were reportedly submitted for review.

The government later revised the shortlisting process, ensuring selection based on unique candidates rather than repeated counting. It also removed the requirement of CBT-2 for Group D recruitment.

UGC-NET 2024: Cancellation Within 24 Hours

In June 2024, another major controversy emerged with the UGC-NET examination, which was conducted on June 18, 2024, for more than 9 lakh candidates.

Within 24 hours, on June 19, the examination was cancelled after allegations surfaced regarding question paper circulation on digital platforms. The allegations were that the paper had leaked on social media platforms, including Telegram and other messaging services.

The sudden cancellation triggered protests in Delhi and other cities, where students demanded accountability from the National Testing Agency and reforms in the examination system.

The investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, subsequent forensic analysis revealed that the panic was triggered by a digitally altered screenshot rather than an actual large-scale paper leak.

The image had reportedly been modified to create the impression of early access to the question paper. A re-examination was conducted later in 2024 under revised security protocols.

UP Police Constable Exam 2024: One Of The Largest Recruitment Protests

In the same year, the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable recruitment examination also witnessed massive protests. The recruitment process had attracted nearly 48 lakh candidates for 60,244 posts. Shortly before the examination, allegations emerged that question papers and answers were being circulated through Telegram and WhatsApp groups.

This led to widespread protests in Uttar Pradesh, including large gatherings in Lucknow and demonstrations at public locations such as Eco Garden.

Initially, the state government denied the allegations, but as pressure mounted, the examination was cancelled on February 24, 2024. Investigations led to the arrest of individuals linked to organised cheating networks, commonly referred to as solver gangs.

A re-examination was later conducted under strict security arrangements. Along with this, the government also introduced additional measures such as free transportation for candidates and tighter monitoring systems at examination centres.

BPSC 70th Combined Competitive Examination: Protest Without Cancellation

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 70th Combined Competitive Examination also faced protests in 2024 due to allegations of irregularities and administrative delays. Students reported delayed distribution of question papers at centres such as the Bapu Examination Complex in Patna, along with concerns about fairness and possible leaks.

Protests included sit-ins, road blockades, and clashes with police in several areas of Bihar, particularly at Gardanibagh and near railway halt points.

The BPSC denied allegations of a widespread leak and stated that the examination had been conducted across more than 900 centres in a fair and transparent manner. A limited re-examination was ordered only for affected centres where disruptions were acknowledged.

The matter reached the Patna High Court and later the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court refused to halt the recruitment process, stating that there was no conclusive evidence of a systemic paper leak. The examination process continued, and final results were declared for the recruitment of administrative posts.

NEET-UG 2024: Mass Score Anomalies And Investigation

Another major controversy in 2024 involved the NEET-UG examination, which became one of the most widely discussed controversies in recent years.

Allegations emerged from Bihar and Jharkhand regarding early access to question papers and their circulation through coaching-linked networks for amounts reportedly ranging between ₹30 lakh and ₹50 lakh.

The controversy intensified when an unusually high 67 candidates scored a perfect 720 out of 720. Concerns were raised when several toppers were reported from the same examination centre in Haryana.

Another unusual development was that some candidates scored 718 and 719, which are inconsistent with the standard NEET marking scheme.

The National Testing Agency initially explained these scores as the result of grace marks awarded for time loss at certain centres.

However, following public criticism, the grace mark policy was withdrawn, and approximately 1,563 candidates were instructed to reappear for the examination.

Later, they scored significantly lower marks compared to their previous scores.

The case was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which arrested individuals linked to organised cheating networks.

Despite demands for a complete cancellation of the examination, the Supreme Court, in July 2024, refused to cancel NEET-UG 2024, stating that the irregularities were limited to specific locations and not widespread across the country.