The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a strong warning to candidates, parents, and educational institutions not to submit fake, digitally altered, or AI-generated OMR and scorecards related to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026. The agency said these are serious offenses under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, including invoking the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.The advisory comes days after the announcement of NEET UG 2026 results, following reports that some candidates said their uploaded OMR sheets were fake or “altered.” According to the NTA, several representations were accompanied by allegedly “correct” OMR sheets or cards which were later found to be forged.
NTA says the official records match the declared results
The board said it has reviewed all the representations received after the declaration of results. In every case reviewed so far, the official documents, including the OMR answer sheet, registration number, test booklet number, barcode, booklet, signature, finger print, and invigilator’s signatures, are consistent with the declaration of the board.The NTA said legal verification and archival records confirmed that the documents submitted by the candidates or their representatives were not genuine OMR sheets issued by the agency. Instead, they were replaced by digital or completely fictional documents.
How fake OMR papers were created?
The NTA said that investigators have discovered a number of methods used to create fake documents. This includes:
- Using artificial intelligence (AI)-based image processing tools to recreate the printed parts of OMR papers, resulting in visible distortions in previously printed parts such as instructions, question numbers, field notes and declaration paragraphs.
- Digital replacement of candidates, including names, surnames, signatures, and mobile views—while leaving the original barcode, booklet number and answers intact.
- Changing the characters or answers read on the downloaded cards or OMR images does not change the QR code or barcode, which remains linked to the original documents stored on the institution’s servers.
- Creating false information by posting names and details of people who have not applied for NEET UG 2026.
According to the agency, even though these modified documents may look good, they will not change the official documents stored on secure servers.
Official transcripts remain final
The NTA stressed that each genuine NEET UG document has unique identifiers such as barcodes, paper numbers, test booklet numbers, and QR codes. These identifiers are linked to an authentication record stored on the organization’s secure servers by the National Informatics Center (NIC).The board said that whenever a conflicting document is verified against these official documents, false documents are exposed and the claim is rejected.
Major legal consequences of using false documents
The agency warned that creating, possessing, publishing or sending digitized or AI-generated OMR papers, documents or other test documents is a cognizable offence.According to the notice, this may invite prosecution as follows:
- Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Procedures) Act, 2024
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
- Information Technology Act, 2000
Apart from prosecution, those who are found using false documents may face the cancellation of their examination and disqualification from future examinations conducted by the NTA.
Legal actions may extend to third parties
The NTA said that the cases will not be limited to candidates. The agency may take action against any person or entity found to have prepared, issued, sold or promoted false test documents.It said that in any such case, the officially declared result of NEET UG 2026 will be valid and no re-evaluation, re-marking or reservation of seats will be considered on fictitious basis.
Genuine complaints can still be submitted
The board made it clear that the notice does not bar candidates from bringing valid complaints. Students who believe that there is a discrepancy in their OMR sheet can submit a representation through the support team by mentioning their application number, roll number, discrepancy and supporting evidence.However, NTA advised candidates to only attach the documents provided by the agency or download from its website. If a fake document is submitted, even if the applicant claims to have mistaken it for someone else, the commission said that appropriate action can be taken. In such cases, candidates must disclose information to the third party and cooperate with the survey.
Advice for students and parents
NTA has advised the candidates, parents, guardians, educational institutions, and academic advisors to rely on the official NEET UG documents and refrain from going around or doing what is written. The agency reiterated that its official database is the only one that has the power to check the answers and scores of the candidates and warned that attempts to use fake documents require strong legal and administrative action.Here it is the link to government information.