Indian student data sold online

Personal data belonging to Indian students is being sold openly on the internet through more than 1,000 databases, covering a period of nearly a decade. The most recent data leaks involve CUET-UG and other exams conducted in 2026.

The accuracy of the data has been confirmed by parents and students interviewed. For instance, data for CUET 2026 UG students is reportedly being sold for approximately 6,999 Indian Rupees, with claims of over 1.5 million records. Medianama confirmed the data's authenticity by interviewing several students who were unaware their information was being sold.

At least three websites identified in the investigation are selling personally identifiable information. The names of these websites are not being disclosed to prevent further exploitation. The data breaches are not isolated to a single exam but cover several key admission gateways nationwide, including national entrance tests like CUET-UG, CUET-PG, CMAT, and SNAP, as well as state-level engineering and medical entrance exams.

Additionally, data from private coaching institutes, such as Aakash Institute, is also being sold. The databases are clearly organized by course, city, and state, presented in an e-commerce style with standard retail software, creating a misleading appearance of legitimacy.

Medianama has previously reported on similar data leaks. In 2018, the company reported on over 50 websites selling personal and academic data of millions of students. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in student data privacy in India.