The CBI arrested Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, a lecturer at Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala in Pune and NTA-appointed expert for the NEET-UG 2026 physics paper. The arrest marks the eleventh in the ongoing case registered on May 12 after the May 3 exam was cancelled. A re-test is scheduled for June 21 with nearly 23 lakh candidates registered.
“CBI arrests key accused linked to NEET-UG 2026 physics paper leak case”
Read at The Hindu →No center sources covered this
“CBI arrests Pune lecturer in NEET-UG 2026 physics paper leak case”
Read at Times of India →The arrest highlights vulnerabilities in India’s medical entrance system affecting nearly 23 lakh aspirants, many from lower-income backgrounds, with insider access enabling leaks that undermine meritocracy.
“Equity harms and systemic lapses disproportionately affecting first-generation learners”
The case shows failures in vetting within government bodies like the NTA, underscoring the need for rigorous checks and swift enforcement to protect merit-based admissions.
“Institutional accountability and law enforcement deterrence”
Centralized control by the NTA creates monopoly incentives for leaks, suggesting private competing assessments would reduce systemic fragility.
“Risks of top-down credentialing versus market alternatives”
All views accept CBI claims despite thin sourcing and timeline inconsistencies, overlooking possible overstated charges or media amplification while underplaying coordinated networks and coaching hubs.
“Over-credulity toward enforcement narratives and missed coordination evidence”
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