UGC-NET Sociology paper leaked for ₹2.5L, alleges Opposition; NTA denies breach

New Delhi A major political storm has erupted over the integrity of national competitive examinations, with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launching a scathing attack on the Modi government following allegations that the UGC-NET Sociology question paper was leaked and sold for up to ₹2.5 lakh across northern states.

While candidates and Opposition leaders claim that a leaked PDF perfectly matched the official examination paper, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has strongly denied the allegations, maintaining that no breach occurred.

The allegation: Match found in circulated PDF

The controversy surfaced after a PDF file containing exam questions began circulating widely on social media platforms. Candidates quickly pointed out that out of the 100 questions in the circulated document, up to 96 were identical to those that appeared in the actual Sociology examination.

Reports suggest that the file was actively sold for prices ranging between ₹2.25 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh across a well-organised network operating in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.

Crucially, the document reportedly contained details related to the question paper settings—information that is exclusively accessible within the NTA. The examination had already faced scrutiny earlier over technical errors and formatting blunders before the leak allegations emerged.

Government 'sleeping soundly': Rahul Gandhi

Taking to social media platform X, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared a media report highlighting the allegations raised by student leaders in Rohtak, Haryana. Gandhi accused the Central Government of turning a blind eye to the destruction of students' futures.

In a sharply worded post in Hindi, the former Congress chief stated, "The serious allegations that have surfaced regarding last week's UGC-NET exam are utterly shocking. Just a few weeks after the NEET paper leak, reports are now emerging that a 100-page PDF was circulated right before the UGC-NET exam. This PDF pertains to the question paper setting, which is available only with the NTA. Nearly 90 questions in the PDF match those from the actual Sociology question paper."

Gandhi further alleged that the same illicit network claimed it could compromise upcoming examinations, including the CSIR-NET, HTET and ADA. Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Leader of the Opposition asserted that it is futile to expect accountability from the current administration.

"Even after the repeated scams in NEET and NET, the Modi government continues to turn a blind eye and sleep soundly, because the years of hard work put in by lakhs of students -- who burn the midnight oil -- holds no value for them," Gandhi said, adding that students would not get justice through official channels. "The only tool for change is our collective voice -- the resounding 'chhatron ki goonj' (echo of students) across the country, which will bring about an education revolution in India."

NTA denies claims

The National Testing Agency has rejected the allegations of a paper leak entirely. In its official clarification, the NTA stated that the question paper in question only surfaced on social media six days after the examination had already been concluded, arguing that this timeline disproves any claims of a pre-exam leak.

(With PTI inputs)