Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE) on Saturday cancelled the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026, scheduled for Sunday, after a joint police operation in Bhiwandi (Thane) uncovered a significant question paper leak a day before the exam.
The statewide test, to be held at 1,028 centres for 4,28,122 registered candidates, was called off to preserve fairness and transparency, MSCE officials said. The sudden postponement has left candidates — many of whom had travelled long distances — in limbo and sparked widespread outrage.
Intelligence agencies received information early Saturday that a group in Bhiwandi had unauthorised access to TET question papers. Acting on the tip off, Bhiwandi police conducted a raid, detained several suspects and seized materials. MSCE officials were invited to verify the seized documents; a cross check found the recovered questions matched the actual June 2026 TET paper.
An FIR has been registered at Bhiwandi Police Station, and a high level joint probe by the Education Department and Thane Police is underway to trace the masterminds, identify security lapses, and ascertain whether any board insiders or printing presses were involved. The MSCE said it will announce a fresh exam date soon and will publish updated guidelines on its official website.
The MAHA TET is mandatory for candidates seeking eligibility to teach in primary (Classes 1–5) and upper primary (Classes 6–8) schools in Maharashtra. Aspirants have demanded stricter enforcement of anti paper leak laws and accountability from the education authorities, drawing parallels with recent national exam controversies such as NEET and UGC NET.
(Inputs from IANS)