In 2024, the NEET medical entrance examination came under scrutiny after allegations of paper leaks and irregularities emerged, with the controversy deepening when 67 candidates scored full marks.

On the day of the exam, Bihar Police uncovered an alleged paper leak network. Investigators claimed that several aspirants had paid between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh to obtain access to the leaked question paper ahead of the test.

The probe was later transferred to the CBI, which alleged that the paper had been illegally accessed from an examination centre in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, before the exam commenced. According to the agency, the paper was circulated through organised networks involving middlemen, students, and local operatives.

The row also triggered widespread criticism over the awarding of “grace marks” and unusually high scores. In July 2024, the Supreme Court observed that a paper leak had indeed occurred but declined to cancel the examination, stating there was no proof of a “systemic breach” in the process.