Case file · NTA · surfaced 19 Jun 2024

UGC-NET June 2024: cancelled on darknet alert; CBI found no leak

Closure report

Confidence C — based on the press record (archived below). No primary documents on file yet; treat names of agencies, dates and figures as reported, not established.

The Education Ministry cancelled UGC-NET on 19 June 2024, a day after it was held, citing I4C inputs that the paper was on the darknet and being sold on Telegram. The CBI investigated and concluded the 'leaked' image was a doctored screenshot with a manipulated timestamp, circulated by a student. A closure report recording no evidence of a leak was filed before a special court on 30 January 2025. The exam was re-conducted in August–September 2024. This entry stands as a documented false-alarm benchmark.

Examination: UGC-NET June 2024
Conducting body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam date: 18 Jun 2024
Leak date (as documented): —
Surfaced: 19 Jun 2024
States: Pan-India
Candidates affected: ~9.1 lakh
Leak vector: Vector unestablished
State govt at the time: BJP-led NDA (Union)
Last reviewed: 11 Jun 2026

Accountability Gap Index

national average 0.97 / 7 · how this is scored →

1 / 7

✓ FIR within 30 days
✗ Charge sheet within 180 days
✗ Any conviction
✗ Exam cancelled & fully re-held
✗ Fee refund documented
✗ Official permanently removed
✗ Reform gazette-notified

Each milestone scores one point only when the register holds a document for it. The gap is what the missing points describe.

How it surfaced

Who found it

Central agency alert

The Union Home Ministry's I4C flagged that the paper was being sold on darknet forums and Telegram; the Education Ministry cancelled the exam the day after it was held.

The conducting body's first response

Acknowledged it

Cancelled within 24 hours — the fastest organiser response in this register — and referred to the CBI.

The docket

Every legal action on record, in order. Each row cites its document.

19 Jun 2024

Exam cancelled · Ministry of Education

Exam cancelled on I4C inputs that integrity 'may have been compromised'.

per: CBI files closure report in UGC-NET paper leak case (The Economic Times (ET Education), 31 Jan 2025)
20 Jun 2024

FIR registered · Central Bureau of Investigation

Probe handed to CBI; forensic experts later found the screenshot was doctored.

per: CBI closes probe in UGC-NET suspected paper leak case (Hindustan Times, 30 Jan 2025)
30 Jan 2025

Closure report filed · Special CBI Court, Delhi

Closure report: no evidence of paper leak; doctored screenshot circulated by a student to make money.

per: CBI files closure report in UGC-NET paper leak case (The Economic Times (ET Education), 31 Jan 2025)

What candidates got

Outcome	Ordered by	Order date	Detail
Exam cancelled (full)	Ministry of Education	19 Jun 2024	—
Re-exam held	NTA	—	Re-conducted in CBT mode in August–September 2024.

The investigation trail

Every SIT, committee and inquiry announced for this case — and whether its report ever became public.

CBI investigation on Ministry of Education reference (I4C input)

Formed 19 Jun 2024 · by Ministry of Education

Report status: not made public · 722 days elapsed

Exam cancelled on an Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre input; the CBI later indicated the 'leak' screenshots were doctored. No consolidated public report.

What it cost candidates

₹104 crore estimated

The workings

9.08 lakh registered candidates × Rs 1,150 general fee ≈ Rs 104 crore in fees for the cancelled June 2024 cycle; the re-test in August–September 2024 required fresh travel for every candidate who reappeared.

Travel and lost work days for the re-test are excluded for want of a sourced estimate.

no fee refund documented No refund; candidates were re-admitted to the re-test on the same fee.

methodology →

per: UGC-NET June 2024 information bulletin (fees); NTA registration figures.

Sources on file

Tier 2 · reported CBI files closure report in UGC-NET paper leak case — The Economic Times (ET Education) · 31 Jan 2025 [archived]
Tier 2 · reported CBI closes probe in UGC-NET suspected paper leak case — Hindustan Times · 30 Jan 2025 [archived]

Status log

Every status this register has ever assigned to this case. Append-only.

19 Jun 2024	ALLEGED	Allegations surfaced publicly.
20 Jun 2024	ALLEGED → FIR_REGISTERED	Probe handed to CBI; forensic experts later found the screenshot was doctored.
30 Jan 2025	FIR_REGISTERED → CLOSURE_REPORT	Closure report: no evidence of paper leak; doctored screenshot circulated by a student to make money.

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