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Re‑NEET Exam Faces New Allegations of OMR Sheet Swapping
Candidates allege that scanned OMR sheets posted by the NTA differ from the answers they recorded, prompting investigations by the CBI and Rajasthan Police.
Candidates claim that scanned answer sheets posted by the National Testing Agency differ from the marks they recorded on the original OMR sheets. The National Testing Agency says some complaints involve fabricated or AI‑generated copies.
The controversy emerged after the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the results of the re‑examination (Re‑NEET) for the NEET‑UG 2026 exam. Candidates reported discrepancies on July 18, 2026, following the result announcement for the exam held on June 21, 2026. The original NEET‑UG exam, conducted on May 3, 2026, had been cancelled after a suspected paper leak and other irregularities, prompting the re‑exam schedule [2].
A father posted a video on a public tweet from the Indian National Congress (INC) alleging that his son’s OMR sheet had been replaced with that of another individual, identified as “Ajit Singh.” The candidate, Avnish Shrivastava, is among several aspirants who have filed formal complaints with the NTA, claiming that the uploaded scanned OMR sheets do not match the answers they marked during the Re‑NEET exam [1]. An unnamed female candidate similarly reported that the scanned copy posted by the NTA showed a score of 60, whereas her original sheet indicated a higher total, prompting a monetary challenge of ₹27,800 against the agency [4].
The National Testing Agency responded that it is reviewing the complaints and noted that some of the submitted evidence appears to be fabricated, including copies generated by artificial intelligence tools. The agency emphasized that its verification process involves cross‑checking the physical OMR sheets retained at test centers with the digital scans uploaded to its portal [1]. The NTA has not yet provided a public statement confirming any specific instance of sheet swapping.
Allegations and Official Responses
Candidates who sat for the Re‑NEET exam on June 21, 2026, have submitted written complaints to the NTA through its grievance portal. The complaints cite mismatches between the answer patterns recorded on the original OMR sheets and the digitized versions posted on the NTA website. In at least two documented cases, the candidates provided photographs of their original OMR sheets, asserting that the scanned copies displayed different marked options for multiple questions [3][4].
The National Testing Agency responded that it is reviewing the complaints and noted that some of the submitted evidence appears to be fabricated, including copies generated by artificial intelligence tools.
The NTA’s initial reply, circulated via its official communication channels, indicated that the agency is conducting a forensic analysis of the submitted evidence. The agency warned that some submissions contain inconsistencies suggestive of manipulation, including the use of AI‑generated images that mimic authentic OMR sheets [1]. The NTA has not disclosed the outcome of its internal review as of the date of this report.
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Read More →The Indian National Congress amplified the issue by sharing the father’s video on its official Twitter handle, framing the allegation as a potential systemic failure in the national medical entrance examination process [1]. The tweet did not include an official statement from the party but highlighted the perceived injustice faced by the candidate.
Investigations and Institutional Actions
Following the allegations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Rajasthan Police, which were already engaged in probing the alleged paper leak that led to the cancellation of the May 3, 2026 exam, have expanded their scope to include the OMR discrepancy claims [2]. Both agencies have issued notices to the NTA requesting cooperation in retrieving the original OMR sheets stored at test centers for forensic comparison.
The NTA has confirmed that it retains physical OMR sheets for a minimum of 12 months as per its standard operating procedures. The agency indicated that it will make the original sheets available to the investigative authorities upon formal request [1]. No arrests or formal charges related to the alleged OMR swapping have been reported as of July 19, 2026.
The Ministry of Education, overseeing the NTA, issued a brief statement urging “prompt and transparent resolution of all grievances” and reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the integrity of national entrance examinations [2]. No policy changes or procedural revisions have been announced pending the outcome of the ongoing investigations.
Impact on Students and the Examination Process
The immediate effect of the allegations is heightened uncertainty among candidates awaiting final verification of their Re‑NEET scores. Students who have secured provisional admission offers based on the contested results may need to await clarification before confirming enrollment in medical colleges [3].
Students who have secured provisional admission offers based on the contested results may need to await clarification before confirming enrollment in medical colleges [3].
Educational institutions that rely on NEET‑UG scores for seat allocation are monitoring the situation closely. Several private coaching centers have reported an increase in inquiries from aspirants seeking guidance on filing formal complaints with the NTA [4].
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Read More →The controversy may prompt the NTA to review its OMR handling and digitization protocols. Potential reforms could include enhanced tamper‑evident packaging for OMR sheets, real‑time scanning at test centers, and third‑party audits of the digitization workflow. However, no concrete measures have been announced as of the current reporting date.
Key Facts
What: Candidates allege that scanned OMR sheets posted by the NTA differ from their original answer sheets in the Re‑NEET exam.
When: Allegations surfaced on July 18, 2026, after the Re‑NEET result release; the re‑exam was held on June 21, 2026.
What: Candidates allege that scanned OMR sheets posted by the NTA differ from their original answer sheets in the Re‑NEET exam.
Impact: The dispute affects NEET‑UG candidates’ scores, may delay admissions, and could lead to procedural changes in exam administration.
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Read More →Sources
- Re‑NEET Sparks Fresh Row Over OMR; NTA Says Complaints Involve Fake, AI‑Generated Copies – Times Now News
- 2026 NEET controversy – Wikipedia
- NEET UG 2026 Result: Candidate alleges OMR mismatch … – Careers360
- NEET UG 2026 Re‑Exam Dispute: OMR Sheet Mismatch Alleged – Career Ahead Online
