New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday rejected claims by several NEET-UG 2026 candidates that circulated OMR sheets and alleged score discrepancies, saying the images shared on social media were digitally manipulated and did not match official records.
In posts on X, the NTA said it had reviewed records for multiple candidates — including Avaneesh Srivastava, Abhay Yadav, Lakshya Singh and Arya Singh — and found the agency’s declared scores to be correct.
The agency said Avaneesh Srivastava (App. No. 260411198880, Roll No. 2001805051) had been emailed his genuine OMR during the response-key challenge window and that the original sheet on file bore his correct personal details, signature, thumb impression and invigilator signatures. The viral image, the NTA added, was a digitally regenerated version in which identity fields had been overwritten using AI- or OCR-based tools; it noted the identity shown in the circulated image did not match any registered NEET (UG) 2026 candidate. Avaneesh’s verified score of 337 marks remains unchanged, the agency said.
On Abhay Yadav (App. No. 260411367191), the NTA said records show he left 44 of 180 questions unattempted, contradicting his public claim that only five were blank and that he merited 634 marks. The agency confirmed his score of 164 marks.
The NTA said the OMR image shared for Lakshya Singh (App. No. 260412053016) had additional shaded bubbles not present on the genuine sheet, and that his recorded attempts — 54 questions, with 34 correct and 20 incorrect — support his verified score of 116 marks.
For Arya Singh (App. No. 260410434102), the agency pointed to alterations such as a changed invigilator-signature time (from 3:45 pm on the genuine sheet to 2:45 pm on the circulated image) and other signs of digital tampering. Arya’s verified score of 167 marks stands, the NTA said.
The NTA warned that creating or circulating forged OMR answer sheets is an offence under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and said it may take action against those involved in fabricating or sharing such documents. It reiterated that the genuine OMRs for all candidates are on file with the agency.
(Inputs from IANS)