Air Force Assistance to Prevent Cheating

May 31, 2026

The government’s failure in conducting the NEET and UGC examinations has jeopardized the future of students. Subsequently, irregularities were observed in the CBSE examinations as well. Students who failed have alleged irregularities in the re-evaluation process. Students have also lodged complaints regarding fraudulent practices within the “on-screen marking” system introduced by the CBSE Board for re-evaluation. What is the true value of an education system in which, year after year, the examination framework appears flawed and held captive by malpractices? Recognizing the gravity of this situation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a meeting on Thursday at the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, and defence officials. Regarding the NEET examination—which is now scheduled to be held on June 21—a decision was taken to enlist the assistance of the Air Force to transport question papers to the examination centers. It is worth recalling that the NTA rescheduled the exam for June 21 following its cancellation on May 3. The decision to seek military assistance was made to prevent any recurrence of irregularities. In our view, this marks a sign of failure on the part of the examination administrators, demonstrating their inability to honestly and punctually deliver question papers to the centers.