Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi raised questions on the government’s investigation on NEET-UG 2024 paper leak. He said in the Lok Sabha that out of 45 accused, 44 have been granted bail, which raises questions on the seriousness of the government. He also termed the 2024 law as inadequate.
New Delhi [भारत]July 28 (ANI): Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday questioned the government’s handling of the 2024 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG) paper leak. He said that out of 45 accused chargesheeted in this case, 44 have got bail. Gogoi also questioned the effectiveness of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and alleged that despite the law, another paper was leaked in 2026.
Government cornered over NEET paper leak
Initiating the discussion on the bill on behalf of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi said, “Now, I want to place before the House the current status of the investigation into the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak. So that the country can understand how serious this government is about the massive corruption that happened in the NEET exam two years ago. With great sadness, I would like to point out that an article published in 2026 states that 45 people have been chargesheeted in the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case. Of the people, 44 have already been granted bail. This is the seriousness of the government.”
He also criticized former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his earlier comments in which he had denied the leak of NEET-UG 2024 paper. Gogoi further said, “Because even after bringing this law in 2024, the paper was leaked again in 2026. If the law was so strong, then how did such a big paper get leaked after exactly two years? The unfortunate thing is that even then the Education Minister was Dharmendra Pradhan. When the 2024 paper leak became a national issue, do you know what Dharmendra Pradhan had said? He said, ‘Where has the paper been leaked? No paper has been leaked. Is’.”
Strict provisions in the amendment bill
The amendment bill aims to further strengthen the provisions of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. This includes speedy investigation, speedy trials through special fast-track courts, appointment of special public prosecutors, time-bound disposal of appeals and more stringent penal provisions to effectively prevent unfair means and organized malpractices in public examinations.
The Bill proposes to increase the punishment for persons resorting to unfair means, including increasing the period of imprisonment to a minimum of five years, extendable to ten years, whereas in the existing provision it is not less than three years, extendable to five years. There is also a proposal to increase the maximum fine from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
Extended time to discuss the bill
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was ready to extend the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by 10 hours if needed. Rijiju said he has spoken to leaders of various parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK and NCP, and they have agreed to extend the scheduled six-hour discussion by two hours. “I spoke to leaders of all parties, Congress chief whip, Samajwadi Party chief whip, DMK and NCP, and all agreed to extend the six-hour discussion by two hours to eight hours. We all reached this agreement,” Rijiju said in the House.
Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh, while initiating the debate on the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, said that these amendments are being made in the 2024 Bill, which was the first of its kind to protect the future of students in independent India and was introduced by the present government. (ANI)
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