Abolish NEET, permit states to fill seats on basis of Class 12 marks, TN CM Vijay urges Centre

Chennai: The newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay asserted on Wednesday that the widespread leaks and subsequent cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination serve as "conclusive proof" of fundamental structural deficiencies within the national testing system.

The Chief Minister noted that the Tamil Nadu government has maintained a consistent and unanimous opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) since its introduction. Vijay argued that the centralised examination model disproportionately penalises students from rural districts, government-funded schools, and those from Tamil-language educational backgrounds.

In a formal appeal to the central government, Vijay urged for the complete abolition of the exam, advocating instead for a system that empowers individual states to manage medical admissions based on Class 12 academic performance.

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CBI Intensifies Nationwide Crackdown

The statements from the Chief Minister coincide with a significant escalation in the federal investigation into the security breach. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday announced the arrest of five individuals and the execution of coordinated searches across various states.

Law enforcement officials confirmed three arrests in Jaipur, one in Gurugram, and one in Nashik. Authorities indicated that several other persons of interest are currently under interrogation, and further arrests are anticipated as leads develop.

Among those in custody is 30-year-old Shubham Khairnar, who was apprehended in Nashik following a request from Rajasthan authorities. A local magistrate granted a transit remand, allowing the CBI to transport Khairnar to New Delhi for specialised questioning.

Investigators have confiscated an array of digital evidence, including laptops and mobile handsets. These devices are scheduled for forensic analysis to determine if messaging platforms were utilised to distribute the compromised examination materials.ALSO READ: ‘Can’t our Gen-Z send ministers to jail?’ Kejriwal

Coordination and Forensic Analysis

Agency sources stated that the CBI is working in tandem with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police, which initiated the preliminary inquiry into the matter.

"The CBI is pursuing all leads relating to the alleged paper leak through extensive technical and forensic analysis and remains committed to conducting a comprehensive, impartial and professional investigation into the matter," an official familiar with the case said.

CBI representatives also visited the headquarters of the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Wednesday to secure documentation relevant to the May 3 examination and to interview officials involved in the administration of the test.

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The Scale of the Breach

The NEET-UG 2026 was a massive undertaking, with approximately 2.3 million candidates registered to appear at testing centres across 551 Indian cities and 14 international locations.

The NTA reported receiving data regarding potential malpractice on the evening of May 7, four days after the conclusion of the test. These reports were forwarded to federal agencies the following morning for "independent verification and necessary action."

According to the Rajasthan SOG, a "guess paper" for chemistry was allegedly provided to select students prior to the exam. The document reportedly contained 410 questions, roughly 120 of which were identical to those found on the official examination paper.

With inputs from PTI