2 Arrested in Haryana for 'Leaking' CSIR-NET Question Paper: Police
In a crackdown on cheating syndicates, two individuals, Sachin Kumar and Neeraj Dhankhar, were arrested in Sonipat district, Haryana, on December 17, 2025, for allegedly leaking question papers of the prestigious CSIR-UGC NET 2025 exam for Life Sciences and Chemical Sciences subjects. The arrests were made by a joint team of the Chief Minister's flying squad from Rohtak and Gohana police following a tip-off and a raid on a private location where 37 students had gathered to receive the leaked papers a day before the exam.
According to police sources, the leak was orchestrated by an organized network that targeted national exams like CSIR-UGC NET for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and PhD eligibility. The syndicate allegedly charged students ₹3-4 lakh per candidate for access to the leaked papers, which were then circulated to aspiring students through digital means.
The arrests are a significant setback for students who had been duped into paying hefty sums for the leaked papers. The 37 students who received the papers will now face interrogation, disqualification, and potential legal action under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including criminal breach of trust, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.
This incident is the latest in a series of paper leaks in India, which have led to exam cancellations, Supreme Court interventions, and arrests of organized gangs. The CSIR-UGC NET 2025 exam is a national-level computer-based test conducted twice yearly by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine eligibility for JRF, PhD admissions, and assistant professorships in science fields.
The leak undermines the fairness of CSIR-UGC NET, potentially requiring cancellation or re-examination at affected centers, delaying JRF/PhD opportunities for thousands of aspirants nationwide and eroding trust in NTA-conducted exams. The incident has also raised concerns about the need for stricter digital protocols and policy reforms to prevent such scandals in the future.
The BJP government in Haryana has faced criticism from the Congress over its handling of recurring leaks in the state. The Congress has framed it as a systemic failure by the "cheating mafia" and has questioned the government's ability to prevent such incidents.
The implications of the leak are far-reaching, affecting not only the students who were directly involved but also the broader academic community. The NTA, which conducts the CSIR-UGC NET exam, will now have to re-examine its security protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
As the NTA grapples with the fallout of the leak, it is clear that the fairness and integrity of national exams are under threat. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for stricter security measures and policy reforms to prevent cheating syndicates from exploiting students and undermining the merit-based selection process in science academia.
The police investigation into the leak is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what other individuals or organizations are involved in the syndicate. However, one thing is clear: the CSIR-UGC NET 2025 exam has been compromised, and the consequences will be felt by thousands of aspiring students across the country.
The incident highlights the need for a coordinated effort between the government, educational institutions, and law enforcement agencies to prevent cheating syndicates from exploiting students. It is time for the NTA and the government to take a hard look at their security protocols and policy frameworks to ensure that the integrity of national exams is preserved.
As the academic community grapples with the fallout of the leak, one thing is certain: the CSIR-UGC NET 2025 exam will never be the same again.
📰 Source: Hindustan Times - States
