Fake digitally‑altered OMR sheets circulated on social media, NTA intervenes

A wave of fabricated NEET‑UG 2026 OMR answer sheets has been spreading across social networking platforms, prompting the National Testing Agency to launch a thorough investigation. The agency discovered that the alleged answer sheets were produced by digitally tampering with genuine OMR records – inserting additional answer marks, swapping candidate names and modifying the timestamps of invigilator signatures.

NTA officials clarified that the original OMR answer sheets for every candidate are securely archived and were dispatched to each examinee’s registered email address during the OMR response‑challenge phase. These authentic documents include the roll number, booklet code, barcode, serial number, handwritten candidate and parent details, thumb impression and the signatures of two room supervisors.

The agency emphasized that the official results are consistent with the verified OMR sheets, the published answer key and the internal evaluation calculations. No evaluation errors have been recorded. NTA warned that creating, presenting or distributing manipulated OMR sheets is punishable under the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and may also attract prosecution under the Indian Penal Code, 2023 and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Students are encouraged to file genuine complaints through the procedure mentioned in the public notice dated July 20, 2026, available on the NTA website, and to refrain from relying on unverified online material.