NEET 2025: Caught cheating? Face result cancellation, 3-year ban, jail with Rs 10 lakh fine

NEW DELHI: The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) has often made headlines due to incidents of unfair means, paper leaks, and large-scale cheating. These controversies have time and again raised concerns over the integrity of the single-largest medical entrance exam of the country. In an effort to curb cheating, the NTA has issued strict warnings to candidates regarding unfair means. NEET UG 2025 LIVE

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the NEET UG 2025 exam in a few hours for around 23 lakh students at over 5,000 exam centres across the country and abroad.

Listing 21 malpractices, the NTA defined NEET unfair means as “an activity that allows a candidate to gain an unfair advantage over other candidates”. Candidates are not allowed to carry any barred items to the exam hall, or indulge in any unfair means as per the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

As per the anti-cheating Bill, cheating in entrance exams will be a non-bailable offence with punishments of three year imprisonment for individuals, that can be extended to 5 years, and a fine of up to 10 lakh. “The service provider shall also be liable to be punished with imposition of a fine up to one crore rupees,” it read.

If a person or a group of people commit an organised crime, they will be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years, but may get extended to 10 years in jail with fine which shall not be less than Rs 1 crore.

Also read From e-rickshaw blunder to police escorts: NEET-UG 2025 undergoes major security overhaul

NEET UG 2025: NTA lists 21 rules to curb unfair means

The NTA will not declare the results for such students and will be banned from appearing in NTA exams for up to 3 years. The candidate will also be liable for criminal action. Similarly, the NEET result of those candidates who appear from a different centre other than the one allotted to them, and those who write or allow others to attempt question papers will also be cancelled.

• Carrying barred and prohibited items such as stationery, communication devices, accessories, eatables, ornaments, or any other material or information relevant or not relevant to the examination in the paper concerned.
• Using someone else (an impersonator) to write the exam, or carrying textual materials for copying.
• Breaching NEET UG rules and regulations or any direction issued by NTA.
• Helping other candidates in cheating or receiving assistance directly or indirectly of any kind or attempting to do so
• Writing questions and answers in any other material other than NEET OMR answer sheet.
• Tearing or defacing of filled OMR sheet or NEET question paper, or booklet.
• Contacting or trying to communicate with any person other than the exam staff during the exam.
• Taking the NEET answer sheet out of the exam centre.
• Trying to smuggle out the NEET question paper or its part or the answer sheet.
• Threatening any of the officials connected with the conduct of the examination or threatening any of the candidates.
• Using or attempting to use any other undesirable method or means in connection with the examination.
• Manipulation and fabrication of NEET admit card, rank letter, self-declaration, etc.
• Forceful entry, exit from examination centre.
• Use or attempted use of any electronic device after entering the exam centre;
• Affixing or uploading of wrong or morphed photographs on the application form or admit card.
• Erasing any information printed on the NEET OMR answer sheet.
• Providing incorrect information or overwriting of the NEET roll number, test booklet number, name, signature on the OMR sheet.
• Making fake claims by manipulating the responses in the OMR sheet.
• Creating obstacles in smooth and fair conduct of the examination.
• Any other malpractices declared as unfair means by the NTA.
• Any other unfair means practice covered under Clause 3 of Chapter II under Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.