Centre approves key NTA appointments as uproar over NEET paper leak intensifies

NEW DELHI: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Saturday approved key appointments in the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the department of higher education amid the ongoing NEET-UG 2026 paper leak row and growing scrutiny of the examination body.Anuja Bapat, an Indian Statistical Service (ISS) officer of the 1998 batch, and Ruchita Vij, an Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officer of the 2004 batch, have been appointed as joint secretaries in the NTA. Meanwhile, Akash Jain, an Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer of the 2013 batch, and Aditya Rajendra Bhojadhiya, an Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) officer of the 2013 batch, have been appointed as joint directors in the agency.The appointments come amid a widening investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. On Saturday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested another alleged mastermind in the case. The agency identified Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a senior Botany teacher from Pune, as the alleged source of leaked Biology questions in the examination. According to the CBI, Mandhare was associated with the NEET-UG 2026 process as an NTA expert and had access to Botany and Zoology question papers.Also read | NEET paper leak: CBI arrests Pune botany teacher who NTA appointed as expertInvestigators alleged that she conducted coaching sessions for NEET aspirants at her Pune residence and disclosed several questions that later matched the actual examination paper conducted on May 3.The arrest came a day after the CBI arrested retired chemistry professor PV Kulkarni in Latur in connection with the alleged leak. The agency said it had conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized documents, laptops, bank statements and mobile phones.The Delhi court sent two accused in the case to 10-day CBI custody for further interrogation.Also read | NEET paper leak row: Delhi court sends two accused to 10-day CBI custodyThe controversy has escalated into a major national issue following the cancellation of the medical exam. Student organisations and resident doctors’ bodies have staged protests demanding accountability, while some groups have moved the Supreme Court seeking the dissolution of the NTA in its present form.Opposition parties have stepped up their attacks on the Centre over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sharpened his criticism by demanding the removal of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the leak, while AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal urged Gen Z to take to the streets seeking accountability from the government.So far, nine accused have been arrested in the case from Delhi, Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune and Ahilyanagar.