A photograph of what appears to be a sealed National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) question booklet is once again circulating on social media. This time, it is the details printed on the booklet itself.A user on X pointed to what looked like a 33-page booklet, an exam duration of three hours and 15 minutes, and references to additional rough-work pages, before asking a question many anxious candidates are already asking: “Is paper already leaked?”The National Testing Agency (NTA) has dismissed the claim, calling the image “all fake” and saying it is being reported to cybercrime authorities. But the response has done little to stop a fresh round of speculation online.
Leak rumours had surfaced a day earlier
On June 13, the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit flagged a purported re-NEET question paper circulating on social media and labelled the claim as fake.According to PIB Fact Check, reports suggesting that the NEET paper had been leaked again were false. The agency advised students and parents not to trust unverified documents, screenshots, images or messages circulating on social media platforms.It also reiterated that all authentic information related to NEET is released only through official channels, including the NTA’s official website.The advisory urged aspirants to verify claims before sharing them, warning that misinformation could create confusion and unnecessary panic among candidates.
Students remain unconvinced
Despite NTA’s latest response, several users questioned whether simply labelling the image as fake was enough to address concerns.One user replied: “Just saying fake doesn’t build our trust… You should prove that it is fake.”The same user pointed to the details visible in the photograph, adding: “SEE THE DETAILS, THE EXTRA TIME , EXTRA PAGES, this is not fake at all.”Another user wrote: “Just by saying that it is fake doesn’t make it fake … Last time was the same scenario … students was saying about leak and they was just saying it is fake.”The comments reflect the continuing trust deficit surrounding high-stakes examinations, particularly after controversies over exam integrity dominated public discussion in recent years.
Why the image gained attention
The viral post focused on two specific details that users claimed were visible on the booklet.The first was the mention of a 33-page question booklet. The second was an examination duration of three hours and 15 minutes, along with references to additional rough work pages.These details became the basis for online speculation that the document could be linked to the upcoming re-examination.However, neither NTA nor PIB Fact Check has indicated that the image represents an authentic examination paper. Both authorities have maintained that the leak claims being circulated online are false.
What students should rely on
For now, the government’s position remains unchanged.PIB Fact Check has stated that the alleged re-NEET paper leak claims are fake, while NTA has described the latest viral image as “all fake” and said it is being reported to cybercrime authorities.That may settle the official position. Whether it settles the concerns of students is another matter.As the re-examination approaches, thousands of candidates are likely to continue scrutinising every viral image, screenshot and message that surfaces online. The challenge for authorities is not just identifying misinformation, but convincing anxious students that it is misinformation.
