Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday claimed that not a single examination paper has been leaked in Punjab during the past four-and-a-half years, attributing the achievement to the state’s strict monitoring and prompt action against malpractice.
Addressing a state-level felicitation ceremony organised to honour 882 government school students who qualified the NEET-UG examination, Mann said the state had acted swiftly even in cases of attempted cheating.
He said a recent incident involving a pharmacy examination was detected within 10 minutes of the test beginning, and those involved in cheating, as well as those facilitating it, were arrested and sent to jail.
Congratulating the successful candidates, Mann said the 882 qualifiers included 660 girls and 222 boys, describing their achievement as a testament to their hard work and dedication.
The Chief Minister said Punjab could have produced more than 1,000 NEET qualifiers had the alleged paper leak not disrupted the examination process. He added that several students were unable to appear for the re-examination.
Referring to alleged irregularities in national-level entrance tests, Mann said NEET question papers were leaked in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2026, causing immense disappointment to students and their families.
He also expressed grief over the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy, saying that 22 young lives had been lost and that no amount of compensation could make up for such a tragedy.
