| Updated On - Jul 20, 2026
NTA on July 20 rejected viral social media claims about NEET UG 2026 OMR sheets calling them digitally fabricated. The agency warned that circulating such fake sheets is a cognisable offence under multiple laws.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has rejected viral social media claims about tampered National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets. The clarification was issued on July 20, 2026, on the official portal at neet.nta.nic.in. The agency has termed the circulating images digitally fabricated.
NTA stated that the viral images do not match the genuine records held by the agency. The declared scores of the candidates named in the viral posts remain accurate. The agency verified the original OMR sheets against its official database.
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What the NTA Notice States
The NTA examined the records of candidates named in the viral posts. These included Avaneesh Srivastava, Abhay Yadav, Lakshya Singh, and Arya Singh. The agency confirmed that the scores declared for these candidates are correct.
According to the notice, the viral image is a digitally regenerated version of a candidate’s genuine OMR sheet. Identity fields were overwritten using Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Optical Character Recognition (OCR)-based tools. The name “Ajeet Singh”, shown in one viral image, does not exist in the NEET UG 2026 database.
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Nature of the Alterations Observed
NTA has listed the types of tampering detected in the viral images. These changes were absent from the original OMR records.
| Type of Alteration | Description |
|---|---|
| Extra response markings | New bubbles were filled in beyond the original responses |
| Name field overwritten | Candidate’s name was replaced using AI or OCR-based tools |
| Parent details changed | Guardian information was altered from the original entries |
| Invigilator signature time | Authenticated timestamp on the invigilator’s signature was modified |
Legal Action Warned by NTA
The NTA has warned that creating or circulating forged OMR sheets is a serious offence. Such acts are cognisable under Indian law, and multiple statutes may apply against those found guilty.
| Applicable Law | Scope of Action |
| Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 | Cognisable offence for the fabrication or circulation of examination records |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | Penal action for forgery and related criminal acts |
| Information Technology Act, 2000 | Action against digital manipulation and online circulation |
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How Can Candidates Verify Their Genuine OMR Sheet?
Candidates can access their authentic OMR sheets and recorded responses only through the official NEET UG portal. The agency uploads scanned OMR sheets in the candidate login section after the examination. Any image circulated through social media should not be treated as an official record.
Students must log in using their application number and date of birth. The download option remains active during the window specified in the official notice. Only the OMR sheet downloaded from the official portal carries evidentiary value.
Also Read: NEET UG 2026 Cutoffs Released; Check Category-Wise Qualifying Marks
This is the first NEET UG cycle where NTA has flagged AI-based image tampering. The Public Examinations Act 2024 is being cited against social media forgeries of answer sheets. Even sharing such images can attract legal action.
Action Plan for Candidates
- Visit only the official portal at neet.nta.nic.in for OMR and result checks.
- Do not trust OMR images shared on WhatsApp, X, Instagram, or Telegram groups.
- Avoid forwarding or reposting any viral OMR image from unknown sources.
- Download your genuine OMR sheet from the candidate login using your credentials.
- Report suspected fake content to NTA through the official helpline or email.
- Preserve your original admit card and downloaded OMR file for future reference.
Watch neet.nta.nic.in for further NTA advisories and any updates on counselling schedules. Track official social handles of NTA and the Ministry of Education for verified alerts.
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