In a significant development regarding the controversy over the NEET and NET paper leak, the Bihar Police's Economic Offences Unit (EOU) revealed that the digital locks on the NEET-UG question paper boxes, which were dispatched by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to various examination centers, had malfunctioned.
These digital locks were designed to automatically open before the examination started. However, at multiple centers, the digital locks failed to function properly, necessitating manual opening of the boxes. This manual intervention led to delays in the distribution of question papers to candidates.
The issue first became apparent on May 5, when NEET examination papers were distributed late at several centers. As a compensatory measure for this delay, the NTA awarded grace marks to 1,563 candidates. This resulted in an unprecedented number of 67 toppers in NEET’s history. The EOU's investigation confirmed that the delay was directly due to the failure of the digital locks.
Adding to the complexity, it was previously disclosed that the delays caused two sets of papers to be distributed hastily at three centres in Bahadurgarh, Haryana: Vijaya School, SR Century School, and Hardayal Public School. The management of these schools confirmed that two sets of papers were distributed, although one set was later retrieved.
Candidates were given an additional 30 minutes to complete their exams, and grace marks were awarded, but it is noteworthy that only candidates at Hardayal Public School received these grace marks.
At Vijaya School, one box was opened at 1:15 PM on May 5, while three other boxes remained unopened. Upon notification of the issue, the NTA instructed officials to manually open the remaining boxes. This resulted in both sets of papers being distributed amidst the ensuing chaos.
The standard procedure for manual unboxing involves two locks: one held by the center observer from the NTA and the other by the sensor superintendent. This process is recorded on video by the NTA. The critical question that remains is why the digital locks failed to operate as intended.
In response to these findings, the EOU submitted its report to the Union Education Ministry on Saturday. Following this, NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh was replaced by retired IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola.
Additionally, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been assigned the task of investigating the NEET and NET paper leak incident.
