New Delhi – September 28, 2025, A young girl from a small village in Bihar sits with her books, eyes full of tears. She’s spent years studying late into the night, skipping meals to afford extra classes. Her dream? To become a doctor and help her family escape poverty. But just days before her big exam, the news hits: The question paper has leaked. Her hard work, her hopes—gone in a flash. The test is canceled, and she must start over, waiting months for a new date. This isn’t a one-off story. It’s the harsh reality for lakhs of students across India, where paper leaks have become a plague, turning exams into nightmares.
On September 27, 2025, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal shared a video of just such a girl—a farmer’s daughter from Bihar—crying over her canceled NEET exam due to a leak. The clip went viral on X, racking up over 1 million views in hours. Kejriwal slammed state governments, saying, “These leaks are stealing our youth’s future. When will it end?” His words struck a chord, igniting protests from Uttarakhand to Karnataka. In Dehradun, thousands of students marched against the UKSSSC paper leak, chanting “Paper chor, gaddi chhodo!” (Paper thief, quit power!). In Bengaluru, Congress-backed groups demanded age limit hikes for jobs amid similar scandals.
This crisis isn’t new, but 2025 feels like a breaking point. From NEET-UG to police recruitments, leaks have hit over 65 major exams since 2019, mostly in UP, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Students like the Bihar girl aren’t just losing time—they’re losing faith in the system. As one protester in Uttarakhand told a local reporter, “We study for years, but crooks get the papers a day before. How is this fair?” With unemployment at a 45-year high and jobs scarce, these leaks are more than cheating—they’re a betrayal of India’s young.
In this story, we’ll look at how leaks happen, the human cost, and what the government is—or isn’t—doing. We’ll hear from students, parents, and experts, and ask the big question: Can India fix its exam mess before another generation suffers?
The Growing Shadow: How Paper Leaks Have Plagued India
Paper leaks didn’t start yesterday. Back in 2019, things were already bad, but they’ve exploded since. Data shows at least 65 big exams hit by leaks from 2019 to 2024, with 2025 adding more fuel to the fire. Uttar Pradesh leads with eight cases, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra at seven each, and Bihar at six. These aren’t small tests—they’re gateways to government jobs, medical seats, and engineering dreams.
Take NEET-UG 2024: Over 24 lakh students sat for it, fighting for just 1 lakh MBBS seats. But in Bihar, police busted a gang leaking papers a day early. They arrested 13 people, including four students who paid Rs 30-50 lakh for the questions. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) found organized networks using WhatsApp and couriers to spread the papers. The Supreme Court admitted a leak happened but refused to cancel the whole exam, saying it wasn’t “widespread.” Still, 67 students got perfect scores that year—too many to be coincidence.
Bihar’s woes didn’t stop. The 70th BPSC prelims in 2024 leaked too, sparking week-long protests for cancellation. In UP, the police constable exam for 60,000 jobs was scrapped after papers went viral online. Rajasthan’s RPSC exams for revenue officers got hit in 2023, with re-tests pushed to 2025. Even AIIMS’s NORCET-9 prelims in September 2025 faced leak allegations, with nurses’ unions demanding probes.
How do they happen? Gangs target weak spots: Bank vaults holding papers, like the SBI in Hazaribagh where NEET trunks vanished briefly in 2024. Insiders—teachers, couriers, even cops—sell info for lakhs. Solvers memorize answers and sit for rich kids. In Bihar’s NEET case, a junior engineer named Yadvendu linked students to gangs, charging Rs 30-40 lakh each. Cyber fraud adds salt: Scammers call parents offering “leaked papers” for Rs 5,000, only to scam them.
Rahul Gandhi nailed it in a recent X video: “Unemployment is high because of vote theft and leaks. Youth work hard, but crooks steal their shot.” His post got 28,000 likes, showing how deep the anger runs.
Stories from the Ground: Dreams Dashed in Bihar and UP
Meet Priya, a 19-year-old from a Bihar village. She sold her family’s cow to pay for coaching. “I studied 12 hours a day for NEET,” she says, voice cracking over the phone. But the 2024 leak canceled her shot. Now, with NEET 2025 looming, she’s scared of more fraud. “My parents think I’m lazy. They don’t know the system’s broken.”
In UP, Raju, a 22-year-old from Lucknow, prepped for the police constable exam. Papers leaked on WhatsApp hours before. “I saw the questions online at 2 AM. Everyone knew,” he says. The cancellation meant six months wait—and more fees he couldn’t afford. “My dad drives an auto. We borrowed for books. Now what?”
Uttarakhand’s youth are furious too. In Dehradun, thousands protested the UKSSSC leak from 2021-2025, shouting “Paper chor, gaddi chhodo!” at CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. One student, Arjun, filmed a viral clip: “Dhami ji says ‘nakal jihad’—but who’s leaking? Your government!” It got 2,900 likes. In Karnataka, students rallied for job age limits, linking leaks to unemployment.
Parents suffer too. In Bihar, a father whose son attempted suicide after a leak told reporters: “He locked himself in, saying he’s worthless. We can’t even afford another try.” Mental health experts report rising stress—suicides up 20% among aspirants in leak-hit states.
Kejriwal’s video of the crying girl? It shows the face of this crisis. “See her pain,” he captioned. “This is what leaks do.” X user @AshishSinghKiJi shared it, saying, “Paper leak is India’s biggest issue. BJP doesn’t care.” The post got 2,900 likes.
The Root Problem: Why Leaks Keep Happening
India’s exam system is a pressure cooker. Over 2 crore kids take competitive tests yearly for limited seats—NEET for 1 lakh MBBS spots, UPSC for 1,000 IAS jobs. High stakes breed greed. Gangs thrive in states like Bihar and UP, where poverty pushes kids to pay up or drop out.
Weak spots? Old methods: Papers in trunks from banks to centers, easy to tamper. In NEET 2024, trunks from Hazaribagh’s SBI went missing briefly, handed to insiders at Oasis School. Tech helps too—leaks via apps, deepfakes of solvers.
Government blames “organized mafia,” but critics say it’s lax oversight. NTA, running NEET, faced heat for “not widespread” leaks despite confessions. In Bihar, EOU arrested mastermind Sanjeev Mukhiya in 2025, linked to NEET and BPSC leaks.
Unemployment worsens it—45-year high, per Rahul Gandhi. Youth see leaks as “vote chori” too—corrupt systems keep power in place. X user @kunalpratap86 fought JSSC CGL leaks, saying, “This is every exam’s future.”
Government Steps: New Law, But Is It Enough?
In June 2024, the Public Examinations Act kicked in, promising 3-5 years jail and Rs 10 lakh fines for leaks. It covers NTA, UPSC, and state boards. CBI probes NEET, with 215 candidates under scanner in 2025.
But students say it’s toothless. No big arrests yet, and leaks continue. In Uttarakhand, CM Dhami’s “nakal jihad” quip drew laughs and anger. Rahul Gandhi linked it to “vote chori,” saying BJP steals both jobs and ballots.
AAP’s “Vote Chori” campaign ties leaks to corruption, aiming for 5 crore signatures. Experts want computer-based tests like JEE, but Health Ministry debates it for NEET. A reform panel is due, but protests demand action now.
In Jharkhand, students won two-phase exams after leaks fight. Karnataka’s youth push age limits. As @BrutIndia posted, “From Delhi to Uttarakhand, students won’t stay quiet.”
The Human Cost: Beyond Numbers
Leaks aren’t stats—they’re lives upended. Priya from Bihar dreams of medicine but fears debt. Raju from UP lost his shot at stability. In Uttarakhand, Arjun says, “We’re not jihadists—we’re jobless youth fighting crooks.”
Parents break too. One Bihar dad: “My son tried suicide after the leak. He’s 20, and life’s over.” Mental health lines see 20% more calls in leak seasons.
Women suffer more—coaching costs keep many home. In UP, a girl from a leaked TET exam said, “I can’t wait another year. Marriage talks start now.”
X amplifies pain. @Amockx2022 listed silences on leaks, Manipur, farmers: “When will he wake up?” @NDV029 on AIIMS: “Rs 3,000 fee, then leaks? Fix it.”
Path Forward: Protests to Promises
Protests grow—from Dehradun’s marches to Bengaluru’s rallies. Rahul: “Fight vote chori to end leaks.” AAP: “Youth vs BJP-Congress corruption.”
A panel eyes reforms: Online tests, better security, faster probes. Bihar Police warns of fake leak calls. But students say: “Act now, or we march more.”
In Bihar, Priya studies on. “I’ll fight till I win,” she says. That’s India’s youth—resilient, but fed up. If the system doesn’t change, who will?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the paper leak crisis in India?
Paper leaks mean question papers for big exams like NEET or police jobs get out before the test, letting some cheat. Since 2019, 65+ cases hit states like UP (8), Bihar (6), and Rajasthan (7). Gangs sell papers for Rs 30-50 lakh, using insiders and apps. It cancels exams, wastes time, and crushes dreams for honest students.
2. How did the recent Bihar farmer’s daughter story start?
On September 27, 2025, Arvind Kejriwal shared a video of a Bihar girl crying after her NEET exam canceled due to a leak. She said her family sold land for coaching, but now waits months. The clip got 1M views, sparking #PaperLeak trends and protests. Kejriwal blamed state governments for “stealing futures.”
3. What are major paper leak cases in 2024-2025?
NEET-UG 2024 leaked in Bihar; 13 arrested, CBI probe, but no full cancel. UP police exam for 60K jobs scrapped after WhatsApp leak. BPSC 70th prelims in Bihar protested for cancel. UKSSSC leaks from 2021-2025 led to Dehradun marches. AIIMS NORCET-9 faced allegations in September 2025.
4. How do paper leaks happen, and who’s behind them?
Gangs target paper transport—like NEET trunks from SBI vaults. Insiders (teachers, couriers) sell to solvers who memorize for rich kids. In Bihar NEET, junior engineer Yadvendu charged Rs 30-40 lakh. Cyber scams add fakes—Bihar Police warned of fraud calls in 2025. Masterminds like Sanjeev Mukhiya run networks across states.
5. What has the government done about paper leaks?
The Public Examinations Act 2024 (effective June 2024) gives 3-5 years jail and Rs 10 lakh fines. CBI probes NEET, with 215 under scanner in 2025. A reform panel eyes online tests. But critics say enforcement’s weak—no big arrests, leaks continue. Rahul Gandhi ties it to “vote chori.”
6. How are students reacting to the crisis?
Protests everywhere: Dehradun’s “Paper chor, gaddi chhodo!” marches (thousands strong). Bengaluru demands job age hikes. X videos like Arjun’s reply to CM Dhami (“We’re not jihadists”) got 700 likes. AAP’s campaign links leaks to corruption. Youth say: “No more waits—we want fair shots.”
7. Can paper leaks be stopped in India?
Maybe, with fixes: Switch to computer tests like JEE (Health Ministry debating for NEET). Better security, fast probes, and strict law enforcement. Jharkhand’s two-phase exams came from student fights. But without political will, leaks persist. As @Benarasiyaa posted, “Thousands on streets in Uttarakhand—media silent?”