The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved several key appointments in the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Department of Higher Education, amid ongoing scrutiny related to the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
Anuja Bapat, an officer of the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) from the 1998 batch, and Ruchita Vij, an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) from the 2004 batch, have been appointed as joint secretaries in the NTA. Additionally, Akash Jain, an Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer of the 2013 batch, and Aditya Rajendra Bhojadhiya, an officer from the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) of the same batch, have been appointed as joint directors.
These appointments come as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues to investigate the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. On Saturday, the CBI arrested Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, identified as an alleged mastermind behind the leak. Mandhare was reportedly involved in the NEET-UG 2026 process as an expert for the NTA and had access to the question papers for Botany and Zoology.
Investigators allege that Mandhare conducted coaching sessions for NEET aspirants at her Pune residence and divulged several questions that matched the actual examination conducted on May 3. This arrest followed the earlier detention of retired chemistry professor PV Kulkarni, who was arrested in Latur in connection with the leak. Reportedly, the CBI carried out searches at six locations nationwide, seizing documents, laptops, bank statements, and mobile phones related to the case.
In related developments, a Delhi court has remanded two individuals involved in the case to 10-day CBI custody for further questioning. The ongoing controversy has sparked significant unrest, leading to the cancellation of the medical exam. Student organizations and resident doctors’ associations have organized protests demanding accountability, with some groups petitioning the Supreme Court for the dissolution of the NTA as it currently functions.
Opposition parties have intensified their criticisms of the government regarding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called for the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has encouraged Gen Z to mobilize for accountability from the government. To date, nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the case across various cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar.
