Flights are rerouted, construction work is halted, and even car honking is restricted near examination centres when millions of students in China appear for the Gaokao, the country's national college entrance examination.
In June 2025, more than 13 million Chinese students took the Gaokao, making it far bigger in scale than India's NEET-UG, the national medical entrance examination. While India's NEET continues to face controversies over paper leaks, China has built an extremely strict and technology-driven system to prevent cheating and leaks in the Gaokao.
NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Paper Leak Allegations
On May 3, around 22 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG 2026 examination, hoping to secure seats in medical, dental, and AYUSH courses across India. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), NEET serves as the single nationwide entrance exam for undergraduate medical education.
However, students' hopes were shaken after allegations of a question paper leak surfaced just eight days after the exam. Following the controversy, the NTA cancelled the examination.
Paper leak allegations linked to NEET are not new. India witnessed a similar controversy in 2024 as well. The latest row has once again raised serious questions about the security and credibility of large-scale competitive exams in the country.
Anand Kumar Calls for 'China-Like' Crackdown
Speaking to Aaj Tak TV, mathematician and Super 30 founder Anand Kumar said India should adopt stricter measures similar to China to stop paper leaks. He stressed the need for tougher action against organised cheating networks and coaching centres involved in malpractice. According to Kumar, repeated paper leak controversies badly affect students' morale and undermine years of hard work.
What Is China's Gaokao Exam?
The Gaokao, officially known as the National College Entrance Examination, is China's biggest and most important academic test. It acts as the main gateway for admission into universities and colleges across mainland China. Conducted by China's Ministry of Education, the exam is usually taken by final-year high school students around the age of 18.
In 2025, around 1.335 crore students appeared for the Gaokao, making it one of the largest examinations in the world. Students are tested in subjects such as Chinese language, Mathematics, and a foreign language. The mathematics section is often considered extremely difficult.
A high score in the Gaokao can determine a student's future university, career opportunities, and social status. Because of this, families invest heavily in preparation and coaching from an early age. The exam is often compared with India's JEE and NEET because of its difficulty level, massive scale, and life-changing impact.
China's High-Tech Security System for Gaokao
China treats the Gaokao with extraordinary secrecy and security. According to reports, question papers are considered "state secrets" and are protected under some of the strictest exam security protocols in the world.
Secure Printing and Transportation
Question papers are prepared and printed under tight security in highly monitored facilities. Some reports say specially designated prisons or ultra-secure centres are used for printing.
Once printed, papers are transported under armed police escort with GPS tracking, CCTV surveillance, and secure storage systems requiring multiple authorisations for access.
AI Surveillance, Drones, and Facial Recognition
On exam day, authorities deploy large-scale anti-cheating systems across exam centres. Students pass through metal detectors and intelligent security gates that can detect mobile phones, smartwatches, hidden earpieces, and other electronic devices.
Many exam centres also use facial recognition, fingerprint scans, and iris verification to prevent impersonation. Radio signal jammers are activated around centres to block wireless communication.
Authorities also deploy drones and specialised police units, including SWAT teams, to monitor suspicious activities near examination venues. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance cameras track student movements in real time and flag unusual behaviour such as whispering or repeated glances. Reports also suggest some Chinese technology companies temporarily limit certain AI image-recognition tools during Gaokao examination hours to stop misuse for cheating.
Flights Rerouted, Honking and Construction Banned
Gaokao examination days bring unusual restrictions across China. Authorities reportedly reroute flights in some regions to reduce noise around examination centres. Construction work, demolition activities, loud commercial promotions, and even car honking are restricted during exam hours. In several areas, no noise-producing activity is allowed within a 500-metre radius of exam centres.
Strict Punishments for Cheating
China has introduced harsh punishments for exam fraud. Cheating, organising cheating rackets, or impersonating candidates in national examinations became criminal offences in 2015 and 2016. Those found guilty can face prison sentences of three to seven years, fines, cancellation of scores, and long-term bans from examinations.
Officials and invigilators responsible for security lapses may also face disciplinary action. Authorities also conduct regular crackdowns on fake answer scams and organised cheating networks before every Gaokao season.
Gaokao Too Has Faced Controversies
Despite its strict security system, the Gaokao has not remained completely controversy-free. The exam is known for putting immense pressure on students. Reports over the years have linked the intense competition and stress surrounding the Gaokao to rising mental health concerns among students. In 2022, allegations of paper leaks surfaced online after images of question papers circulated on Chinese social media.
However, Chinese authorities later claimed the images were part of cheating attempts and had been edited to falsely suggest the papers were leaked before the exam. Apart from the 2022 incident, there have been very few public allegations of major Gaokao paper leaks.
Need for Stronger Exam Security in India
With repeated controversies surrounding competitive exams in India, experts say stronger systems are urgently needed to protect the future of students. China's model, combining strict laws, advanced technology, surveillance, and severe punishments, is often seen as one of the toughest anti-cheating systems in the world. As debates over NEET paper leaks continue, calls for stronger reforms and tighter security measures in India are growing louder.