Gadchiroli: NEET Candidates Caught Using AI Tools and Mobile Phones Inside Exam Centres

A major cheating scandal has surfaced in Gadchiroli during the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the examination conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission to medical courses. On May 3, two separate cases of high-tech malpractice were detected at examination centres in the city. Despite strict security checks and surveillance arrangements, two students allegedly managed to carry mobile phones inside the centres. Police have registered cases against a male student and a female candidate after investigators found evidence that one of them had reportedly used artificial intelligence tools to search for answers during the examination. The incident has triggered concern over lapses in security protocols.

According to police officials, 360 students were allotted seats at Shivaji College examination centre number 3125102 on Dhanora Road in Gadchiroli. During the examination, around 3:40 pm, supervisors Rajesh Patil and Rakhi Mudholkar noticed suspicious behaviour from a 20-year-old female candidate from Nagbhid in Chandrapur district. When they checked her belongings, they allegedly discovered a sky-blue mobile phone hidden with her. Officials were further shocked to find that she had concealed the current year’s question paper inside her clothing while attaching an old question paper to the front page, reportedly to mislead authorities and prepare for copying during the examination.

In another incident at Shivaji College centre number 3125101 in Gokulnagar, a 17-year-old student from Ashti was allegedly caught carrying a mobile phone inside the examination hall. Invigilator Manish Banbale reportedly noticed the device with the student around 2:27 pm during the examination. After the exam concluded, authorities checked the phone and found photographs of the question paper stored in the gallery section. Investigators also discovered chats indicating that the student had allegedly sent questions to an artificial intelligence platform and received answers through the device. The findings have raised serious concerns about the misuse of AI technology in highly competitive national-level entrance examinations.

The incident has sparked questions over how candidates managed to bypass strict NEET security measures, especially when even ordinary items such as slippers, jewellery, and hairpins are prohibited inside examination halls. Centre heads Rajkumar Nandagawli and Arun Munghade later lodged complaints at the Gadchiroli police station. Cases have been registered under Section 3(viii) and other relevant provisions of the Public Examinations Act, 2024. Police have seized the mobile phones and related digital evidence for forensic investigation. Assistant Superintendent of Police Hirde is currently leading the probe to determine whether a larger cheating network or organised racket was involved in helping the students carry out the malpractice.