NEET UG Paper Leak: Expert Also Translated Botany, Zoology Section Questions - Check Full Details

According to the investigation carried out by the CBI in the case of NEET-UG question paper leak, apart from being the setter of the question paper, arrested subject expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare had played a role in translating the paper as well, sources informed.

Last week's arrested subject expert Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a Biology subject expert from Modern College of Arts in Pune, had been involved in translating questions both from the Botany and Zoology sections, allowing her access to a larger portion of the paper compared to previously known facts.

Retired Chemistry teacher P V Kulkarni of Dayanand Junior College in Latur has been reported to be involved in translating the paper into the Marathi language.

CBI has found out that Mandhare had been colluding with some of the other co-accused like Waghmare, and P V Kulkarni.

“Back in April 2026, she approached prospective NEET examination candidates via Waghmare and provided them with special coaching classes at her residence in Pune. As per initial investigations, she was provided full access to the question papers when she was approached by the NTA to translate selective questions,” said an official.

She shared exam-related questions or content with selected students in exchange for “substantial monetary benefits.” “She was taken to Pune to reveal all places where the class was held by her and where she met Waghmare, to confront some of the suspects students,” the source added.

While candidates could opt to take the NEET-UG exam in English, they also have the facility to write the exam in 12 other languages.

According to earlier sources quoted by The Indian Express, National Testing Agency has two translators for each of the 12 languages. Subject experts who set the question papers are also responsible for translation to cut down the number of individuals having access to the question paper, sources said.

In its internal probe prior to handing over the investigation to CBI, the agency had found that all questions regarding Chemistry subjects and some from Biology, in NEET-UG paper, were an exact match with a 'guess paper'. It should be noted that NEET paper has 180 questions from Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.

Subject experts propose questions based on which question papers are prepared by teams of these experts consisting of at least two papers. Afterward, these papers are vetted, solved, and translated before sending them for printing.

NEET-UG exam, which was attempted by 22 lakh candidates on May 3, has been cancelled following allegations of the paper leak.

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