NTA, the National Testing Agency, has reported a sharp spike in deceptive activity on social media before the NEET-UG 2025 exam on Sunday. The test administrator has identified a total of 122 Telegram and Instagram channels that purportedly claimed access to the exam question paper. These instances have been officially brought to the notice of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs for appropriate action.
Acting quickly on inputs received through a newly opened online portal, the NTA announced that 106 Telegram channels and 16 Instagram accounts have been marked for spreading false news. These channels have been charged with trying to mislead the candidates by spreading unsubstantiated reports of paper leaks and selling fake question papers.
The NTA has approached Telegram and Instagram and asked them to remove these pages and accounts with immediate effect. The agency has also sought specific information about the administrators of the pages to facilitate the investigation by law enforcement agencies.
Following trustworthy NTA sources, the surveillance and reporting program kicked off over the weekend as an anticipatory response to increasing online threats. Through the official website, which was hosted on the NTA platform since April 26, the public can report any suspicious actions that fall under three categories: unauthorized websites or social media sites claiming access to NEET-UG material, individuals reportedly holding exam materials, and impersonators who claim to be NTA or government agents.
So far, on May 1, the NTA has received around 1,500 user reports via the portal. Most of these reports pertain to Telegram channels that circulate unsubstantiated stories of leaked question papers, sometimes at payment or harvesting personal data. The NTA clarified that these are completely false and part of systematic efforts to cheat aspirants in a high-stakes national test.
The NTA made it clear that the reporting mechanism will stay open till 5 PM on May 4, examination day. The authorities are dedicated to making sure each report is authenticated and sent to cybersecurity units as needed.
In reaction to the furore last year over a real leak in NEET-UG, the NTA and Ministry of Education have taken strict preventive steps this time. Last year’s breach, which originated from an exam center in Jharkhand, indicated that original question papers were stolen, solved by outsiders, and sold to paying candidates. The scandal resulted in massive public outcry as well as institutional shame.
NTA has since implemented intensified surveillance and security measures to provide transparency and confidence in the examination process. Such measures include police escorts for the movement of question papers and OMR sheets, as well as the random checking of exam centers by District Magistrates and local police throughout the nation.
NTA Coordination Committees, led by District Magistrates, have also been set up to supervise local exam security and logistics. These measures, officials indicated, were in keeping with the advice given by a high-level expert committee established in the previous year. The committee, led by former ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, was set up specifically to suggest reforms for the secure conduct of public entry examinations following the NEET-UG paper leak.
NTA officials indicated that law enforcement will be under the guidelines of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, a newly enacted legislation designed to criminalize malpractice in public examinations. The Act sets severe penalties in the form of imprisonment and heavy fines for offenders.
NTA: How is the agency guaranteeing public trust in NEET-UG despite the wide availability of digital misinformation?
Authorities claim that the solution lies in public engagement, inter-agency collaboration, and real-time monitoring. By allowing users to report scams and publicly revealing malicious networks, the NTA aims to not only curb disinformation but also ensure candidates of the fairness of the examination.
Also, the NTA reminded everyone that no authentic access to the NEET-UG 2025 question paper is attainable prior to the exam. It instructed students and parents not to pay any attention to channels, people, or websites alleging early access to paper content and to rely on official NTA notifications alone. Candidates have been cautioned against responding to dubious Telegram or Instagram accounts, which may be designed to ask for money or steal sensitive information under misleading circumstances.
In accordance with its preventative stance, the NTA has made investments in state-of-the-art cybersecurity infrastructure to keep an eye on suspicious online activity across all platforms. The cybersecurity analysts are collaborating with national agencies in monitoring data flows, establishing patterns, and intercepting any legitimate attempts at exam compromise.
A top NTA official said, “We are taking every complaint very seriously. This is not merely about making one exam safe but ensuring the integrity of our public examination system. No foul element will be spared.”
The Ministry of Education has backed the NTA’s efforts and emphasized that no deviation from established protocols will be tolerated. The Centre is fully committed to supporting legal and technological mechanisms that enhance exam security.
With the countdown to the NEET-UG 2025, the NTA is on its toes. The organization has urged all stakeholders—parents, students, and teachers—to be watchful, cross-check information from authentic sources, and take an active role in ensuring a smooth, transparent, and equitable examination process.
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