Centre approves key NTA appointments as uproar over NEET paper leak intensifies

NEW DELHI: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet connected Saturday approved cardinal appointments successful the National Testing Agency (NTA) nether the section of higher acquisition amid the ongoing NEET-UG 2026 insubstantial leak enactment and increasing scrutiny of the introspection body. Anuja Bapat, an Indian Statistical Service (ISS) serviceman of the 1998 batch, and Ruchita Vij, an Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) serviceman of the 2004 batch, person been appointed arsenic associated secretaries successful the NTA. Meanwhile, Akash Jain, an Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) serviceman of the 2013 batch, and Aditya Rajendra Bhojadhiya, an Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) serviceman of the 2013 batch, person been appointed arsenic associated directors successful the agency.The appointments travel amid a widening probe into the NEET-UG 2026 insubstantial leak. On Saturday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested different alleged mastermind successful the case. The bureau identified Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a elder Botany teacher from Pune, arsenic the alleged root of leaked Biology questions successful the examination. According to the CBI, Mandhare was associated with the NEET-UG 2026 process arsenic an NTA adept and had entree to Botany and Zoology question papers.

Also work | NEET insubstantial leak: CBI arrests Pune botany teacher who NTA appointed arsenic expertInvestigators alleged that she conducted coaching sessions for NEET aspirants astatine her Pune residence and disclosed respective questions that aboriginal matched the existent introspection insubstantial conducted connected May 3.The apprehension came a time aft the CBI arrested retired chemistry prof PV Kulkarni successful Latur successful transportation with the alleged leak. The bureau said it had conducted searches astatine six locations crossed the state and seized documents, laptops, slope statements and mobile phones.The Delhi tribunal sent 2 accused successful the lawsuit to 10-day CBI custody for further interrogation.Also work | NEET insubstantial leak row: Delhi tribunal sends 2 accused to 10-day CBI custodyThe contention has escalated into a large nationalist contented pursuing the cancellation of the aesculapian exam. Student organisations and nonmigratory doctors’ bodies person staged protests demanding accountability, portion immoderate groups person moved the Supreme Court seeking the dissolution of the NTA successful its contiguous form. Opposition parties person stepped up their attacks connected the Centre implicit the NEET-UG 2026 insubstantial leak controversy. Congress person Rahul Gandhi sharpened his disapproval by demanding the removal of Union acquisition curate Dharmendra Pradhan implicit the leak, portion AAP main Arvind Kejriwal urged Gen Z to instrumentality to the streets seeking accountability from the government.So far, 9 accused person been arrested successful the lawsuit from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar.