NTA Director General, Abhishek Singh Insists On CBI Inquiry In NEET Question Paper Leak Probe|News18

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]But speaking of the big issue that we're discussing, the neat crisis that the country is facing with another paper league, we have the DG of the NTA joining us now.

[00:00:11]>> Well, let's go straight across to DGTA, Mr. Abhishek Singh, who joins us. Mr. Singh, thank you very much for joining us uh this evening. I would like to begin by asking you a couple of questions, sir. If 60 questions reportedly match the actual neat paper word for word, that's what we are being told, comma for comma, how can the NTA still argue that this was merely a coaching guest paper and not a fullscale leak. Sir, >> see like as we have announced the press release that was issued this morning that we had got inputs uh through a whistle bler on 7th of May with regard to some PDF being floating which had questions which were matching in the papers. We got the inquiry done. We got the report agencies and when was found that at least a few questions matching and they were in circulation before the conduct of the examination a decision was taken to call up the exam and to have a re-exam and refer the matter to CBI for inquiry.

[00:01:21]>> But investigators sir are claiming and they've spoken to us sources that the paper was circulating days before the exam across many states and WhatsApp groups without the NTA detecting a single breach. How is that possible?

[00:01:37]See we had given clear uh uh we had announced about uh people reporting such breaches. We had got many research inputs. We had blocked 120 telegram channels before the conduct examination. This particular PDF was not reported on any channel or any YouTube channel or any such platform till 7th of uh May. And on 7th of May when we got that the inquiry into the whole thing was also initiated by NTA N referred it to the law enforcement agencies and when we got the confirmation that something was a part of the integrity of the cross examination was violated. We took this extreme call of cancelelling this examination referring it to CBI because we had declared from day one that we have a zero tolerance to any irregularity and if even a one question or anything is is kind of a breach then most >> you know these are performer answers to questions so I'm asking you sir a very fundamental question the NTA was set up precisely to secure the integrity of examinations Has now the NTA itself been penetrated by this mafia?

[00:02:53]That will come out when the CBI inquiry is held.

[00:03:00]We are all for a fair uh complete transparent CBI inquiry and if there is anyone within NTA or outside NTA who is involved in this malpractice which impacts the future of our students, that person will not be spared. that the strongest arm of the law will come down upon them. That is why we have taken the extreme step of cancelelling this examination and referring it to CBI.

[00:03:23]>> Mr. Singh, 2.3 million students have been betrayed by your agency.

[00:03:31]And if you really look at it, it's not just the students who really face this trial by fire. It's also parents. It's their kin. It's their kit. So basically we're looking at anywhere upwards of 75 lakh people who are going to be affected by this. So I'm asking you sir will you take responsibility and step down?

[00:03:54]>> We share the anguish of parents. We share the anguish of students. NTA takes complete responsibility of the of the of our assurance to everyone that we will conduct a zero error z sir in the NTA. Where does the buck stop in the NTA?

[00:04:10]>> That will be clarified when the CBI inquiry is held and if anyone in within NTA is involved, the strongest arm of the law will come on it. We had taken this responsibility that we'll conduct this examination. I am just 6 weeks old in this organization. And >> that doesn't matter sir. That doesn't matter. It's not about it doesn't matter. No, hang on. Let me just tell you, sir. This has repeatedly happened with the neat examination over the last four or five years. I mean this is dates back to 2016, 2021, 2024 and now it's 2026 and the same problem besets this exam. Clearly the entire agency is compromised and people have worked overtime to ensure that those that are actually responsible are getting away because uh we're having repeat incidents. So why shouldn't you step down and take owners and responsibility?

[00:05:01]Where does the buck stop in your organization sir?

[00:05:05]See at this stage we are taking complete responsibility and we are saying that CBI inquiry will establish where does the where is the fault and if there's anyone within NTA who is involved who is be responsible for this action will be taken the strongest arm of the law will come in unfortunately we do have a situation in which there are unscrupulous elements and criminals fraudsters who try to gain the system create these problems and this has remained for some time. 2024 also the complete inquiry was there and it was established who was guilty and that person was punished. Similarly in this case also anyone who is involved within NTA outside NTA will not be spared. The strongest arm of law will come on him.

[00:05:54]>> Sir you are constantly using the word if people in the NTA are involved. How else do you think this paper could have been leaked?

[00:06:06]See we have referred the matter to CBI.

[00:06:09]Our responsibility was to conduct a zero error examination. We when we caught this whistleblower report which showed that some part of the examination >> clearly sir you have failed to carry out that responsibility. So I'm asking you who takes responsibility in your organization? Where does the buck stop?

[00:06:26]Does it not stop at the top?

[00:06:30]You see that call will be taken by the government. The responsibility does lie with NTA. That's why we have said that the repeat examination we will not be charging any fees. We are refunding the fees that was charged even for the first round of the examination and we are committed to conducting a zero error examination.

[00:06:48]>> Why haven't you offered sir to take moral responsibility and step down?

[00:06:52]Simple straightforward question.

[00:06:56]My commitment to the government, my commitment is to conduct free and fair examinations and we'll ensure that we do that.

[00:07:04]>> So you have failed in doing so sir.

[00:07:06]That's the question I'm asking you. You have assured the government that as head of the NTA or as the director general of the NTA you're going to conduct a free and fair examination. That has not happened. So I'm asking you sir, isn't it morally incumbent upon you therefore to tend your resignation or at least offer to step down?

[00:07:33]I am a civil ser the decision with regard to responsibility on and if that be case that will >> sir is there a procedure to offer to resign procedure for >> offering a resignation. Sir, >> why are you citing procedure on something that is a very straightforward question that I'm asking you? Should you not take moral responsibility and offer to resign? If you're not going to resign if all the top bosses under you are not going to resign, there will be no accountability and the process will repeat in itself.

[00:08:21]>> Yeah. Our we are tasked to do certain jobs and as long as that mandate is there we are we cannot shy away from responsibility and correctly our responsibility is to conduct the examination our responsibility to >> well you failed sir that's what I'm asking you're failing you have failed in executing the responsibility that was devolved upon you so should you not step aside and let perhaps someone else do it >> the decision with regard to who failed and how much was the failure and how much responsibility and accountability will be done will be ascribed with by the authorities who have the the uh that authority to take such decisions it will be done don't worry >> no so you are outsourcing the decision to offer your own resignation to somebody else >> currently it's not it's not about me or it's not about any other individual it's about looking after the interests of the 22.7 like candidates 22.7 like students ensuring that the exam is conducted without any malpractice ensuring that those who are guilty those who are responsible for this situation in which we are >> so which we have failed to do and therefore I'm asking you what is the guarantee what is the guarantee that this next round that is going to take place in the next few days or weeks is also not going to be compromised >> that I I we'll walk the talk no point of making hollow claims I right If I say anything it will be seen as hollow we will show what what will be able to done and what we will be able to say that >> so so are you telling me sir that Abhishek Singh DG of the NTA owes no responsibility to the students those 2.3 million students who are going to have to undergo the trauma of once again appearing for this exam.

[00:10:19]We owe complete responsibility. That is why peacefully of this whole thing was report of May. It was not brought to our notice. We could have simply exams and anything which is coming has no credit which has been the practice in almost all exams earlier. But we had committed for a zero error. That is why we verified the complaint even if it was received 2 days after the conduct of the examination. We thought it was missing.

[00:10:52]We took responsibility. We cancelled the exam.

[00:10:57]It's not anyone in NTA including myself is not taking responsibility. We are taking responsibility and we are accountable to the 22.7 lakh students.

[00:11:08]>> DGNTA. Thank you very much for speaking to me. Thank you Mr. Abhishek Singh for speaking to us and taking the time out.

[00:11:14]Thank you.

[00:11:14]>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:11:18]>> Well, let's go straight back to Shivani Gupta. Shivani over two.