The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday, 20 July categorically rejected viral claims by several NEET (UG) 2026 candidates alleging discrepancies in their OMR answer sheets and declared scores, stating that the images circulating on social media were digitally fabricated and bore no resemblance to official records held by the agency.

Key Allegations Dismissed

The NTA addressed four specific candidates by name and application number, verifying each case against its on-file records. In the case of Avaneesh Srivastava (Application No. 260411198880, Roll No. 2001805051), the agency said the genuine OMR sheet — complete with the candidate's personal details, signature, thumb impression, and invigilator signatures — was on record and had also been emailed to him during the OMR Response Key challenge window.

The NTA noted that the viral image inserted a fictitious identity — 'Ajeet Singh, son of Shri Lakhan Singh and Smt. Reena Singh' — which does not correspond to any registered NEET (UG) 2026 candidate. The agency described the circulated image as 'a digitally regenerated version of the candidate's own genuine OMR sheet,' with identity fields overwritten using AI or OCR-based tools. Srivastava's verified score of 337 marks remains unchanged.

Candidate-by-Candidate Rebuttal

In the case of Abhay Yadav (Application No. 260411367191), who publicly claimed only 5 questions were left unanswered and that he deserved 634 marks, the NTA's records told a different story. According to the agency, 44 of 180 questions were left unattempted, and the OMR sheet and calculation sheet on file are 'mutually consistent.' Yadav's verified score stands at 164 marks.

For Lakshya Singh (Application No. 260412053016), the NTA said the circulated image showed 'additional bubbles shaded in by digital means to create a forged OMR sheet.' Official records show Singh attempted 54 of 180 questions, answered 34 correctly and 20 incorrectly, leaving 126 unattempted. His verified score is 116 marks.

The agency also addressed claims by Arya Singh (Application No. 260410434102), pointing to a specific alteration: the recorded time of an invigilator's signature had been changed from 3:45 PM on the genuine sheet to 2:45 PM on the forged version. The NTA noted 'several other markings of digital alteration' on the circulated image. Singh's verified score of 167 marks stands as declared.

NTA's Broader Warning

Addressing the wider controversy, the agency stated that 'the genuine OMR of every candidate concerned is on record with NTA,' and that the images being shared as the 'correct' OMR are 'digitally fabricated documents not issued by NTA.'

The NTA invoked the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, warning that creating or circulating forged OMR sheets is a criminal offence and that action could be taken against those generating or sharing such documents.

Context and What Comes Next

This is not the first time NEET has been at the centre of a controversy involving alleged paper or result manipulation. The 2024 NEET-UG cycle saw widespread protests over alleged irregularities, leading to a Supreme Court review and eventual re-examination in some centres. The 2026 edition's OMR controversy, however, appears to involve a new dimension — the use of AI tools to fabricate documents — raising questions about the sophistication of misinformation targeting high-stakes public examinations.

Candidates who believe their scores are incorrect retain the option of pursuing the official challenge mechanism. The NTA has not yet indicated whether it will file formal complaints against those identified as circulating forged documents, but its public warning signals that legal action remains on the table.