CURRENT AFFAIRS | 29 MAY 2026
The Central Bureau of Investigation has uncovered a fresh layer in the NEET-UG paper-leak network — candidates were allegedly made to surrender their original school documents and pay ‘success fees’ only after the exam. The arrests of Dr Manoj Shirure (Latur) and Tejas Harshvardhan Shah (Pune), coupled with the recovery of 12 returned Chemistry papers from RCC Classes, Latur, has made this the first major enforcement test of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024.
The Compressed Re-Exam
NTA has announced a retest on 21 June 2026 — a 38-day window for 12 lakh+ candidates. The government is reportedly exploring Indian Air Force (IAF) logistics to securely move question papers across the country in the compressed timeline.
The 2024 Act — First Real Test
Passed in February 2024 in the aftermath of the previous NEET controversy, the Act criminalises organised paper leak with up to 10 years jail and ₹1 crore fine. Crucially, §7 makes service providers (printing presses, transport contractors, exam-centre operators) jointly liable. This is the law’s first stress test in an active prosecution.
Constitutional & Legal Framework
- Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024 — sections 3, 7, 9, 10
- NTA Act framework under Ministry of Education
- IPC §420 → BNS §318 (cheating); IPC §120B → BNS §61 (criminal conspiracy)
- Article 14 — equal-opportunity examination jurisprudence
- Article 21A — Right to Education (86th Amendment)
- Avinash Mehrotra v UoI — exam-centre safety
Why This Matters for CLAT 2027
The 2024 Act is high-probability current legislation for both GK and Legal Reasoning. Practice questions on: scope of the Act (central exams only, federal carve-out for state boards); §7 service-provider liability — a new mode of vicarious criminal responsibility; and the interplay with BNS cheating provisions effective 1 July 2024.
Key Facts
| Re-exam date | 21 June 2026 |
| Candidates | 12 lakh+ |
| Max punishment | 10 yrs + ₹1 cr |
| Arrested | Dr Shirure (Latur), T Shah (Pune) |
| Investigating agency | CBI |
Mnemonic — L-E-A-K
Latur arrests · Exam papers recovered · Act 2024 (10 yr / ₹1 cr) · Kompressed retest timeline.
Test Your Understanding
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
