Published Jul 19, 2026 | 2:19 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 19, 2026 | 2:22 PM
NEET exam. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: Candidates who took the NEET UG 2026 re-test have alleged discrepancies between their OMR sheets and final scores, with some claiming steep drops in marks and mismatches between the answers they marked and those uploaded by the National Testing Agency. The NTA said it is examining all representations received from candidates and claimed several OMR sheets submitted for scrutiny were “fake/AI generated”.
Months after CBSE Class XII students began alleging massive discrepancies between their scorecards and their answer sheets, candidates who took the re-test of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 have been highlighting similar issues with their Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets on social media in recent days.
The controversy is the latest to engulf the nationwide entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission to undergraduate medical programmes, coming just months after the NTA was forced to cancel the exams in May 2026 following paper leaks and reconduct the test in June.
Several candidates have taken to X, alleging discrepancies between their expected scores based on the official answer key and the marks reflected in the final results. Many students have demanded an independent review of the result processing mechanism and verification of their OMR sheets.
Some claim their scores dropped by hundreds of marks, while others allege the OMR sheets uploaded by the NTA do not correspond with the answers they marked during the examination.
The National Testing Agency said it is examining all representations received from candidates and claimed many submissions from students were “fake/AI generated”.
“NTA is closely monitoring and scrutinising all complaints. In the wake of many OMR sheets submitted for scrutiny turning out to be fake/AI generated, students and parents are advised to submit only original OMRs for scrutiny. Any fake/AI-generated OMR may invite legal action against the complainant,” the agency said in a statement.
NTA is closely monitoring and scrutinizing all complaints. In the wake of many OMR sheets submitted for scrutiny turning out to be fake/AI generated, students and parents are advised to submit only original OMRs for scrutiny. Any fake / AI generated OMR may invite legal action…
— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) July 18, 2026
Also Read: NEET leakage: Are authorities endorsing systemic failure?
Among the first to flag the issue was Dr Rajesh Kumar Sahu, who said his son’s marks had been drastically reduced.
“My son’s NEET OMR sheet shows that he has scored 660, but when the result came yesterday, it was 116. How come? I have all the proof, please help me,” he posted on X.
My son’s NEET OMR sheet shows that he has scored 660, but when the result came yesterday, it was 116. How come I have all the proof, please help me. pic.twitter.com/QrWSt5tsQI
— Dr Rajesh Kumar Singh (@DrRajeshKu) July 17, 2026
Another candidate, Ibtesham Nasar, alleged that the OMR uploaded by NTA did not match the one filled during the examination.
“I am Ibtesham Nasar, a NEET UG 2026 candidate. Based on my responses in the Re-NEET 2026, I was expecting around 595 marks. However, the result declared my score to be around 60. When NTA uploaded my OMR, I was shocked. The OMR didn’t match the answers I marked during the exam,” the student wrote.
Purva Bhargava also reported a similar experience, saying her nephew’s expected score was around 660 based on the NTA’s final answer key, but the scorecard reflected only 116 marks.
“@NTA_Exams has failed again to provide transparent results. My nephew scored 660 as per NTA’s answer key provided, but now the score card shows 116. This OMR sheet is downloaded from the NTA website, but when we complained, they did not respond. Sir, kindly look into it and help. A bright student’s career should not be ruined like this. There are many reported discrepancies in the result. Act before it is too late,” she posted, tagging Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The complaints are not limited to alleged OMR mismatches. A NEET aspirant from Kanpur said her score changed dramatically within hours of the results being declared.
According to posts shared on X, her score initially appeared as 540 before later being revised to 167, raising further questions about the result processing system.
Another student, Prithvi Rajput, claimed that despite expecting over 640 marks, the declared result showed only 70.
“The same happened to me. I was expecting 643 marks but the result shocked me with only 70 marks. I have also filed an RTI against NTA to provide my OMR, emailed and called them, but they disconnected the call saying to rely on email. There has been no response from them. I have attached the call recording below. Repost it so that it reaches NTA and the matter gets resolved as it affects the hard work of the whole year,” the student posted.
The same happened to me, I am expecting 643 marks but result shocked me with only 70 marks, I have also Filled RTI against NTA to provide my omr, emailed and called them but they disconnected the call saying to rely on email, n9 response from them.I have attached the call… https://t.co/GEqV0yJQZ1 pic.twitter.com/aS82acMvVH
— Prithvi Rajput (@Rinkisingh58137) July 18, 2026
Another user alleged that the published result itself changed after declaration, writing:
“According to the official OMR and the official final answer key, the student should have scored around 650 marks in the NEET 2026 result. However, the result first showed 525 marks and later changed to 135 marks. This is an extremely serious matter. Isn’t this injustice to the student?”
Also Read: India’s exam system has reached a breaking point after NEET fiasco
Amid mounting complaints, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has written to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking urgent intervention over the repeated irregularities in NEET examinations and the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
In the letter dated 18 July, FAIMA said the recurring controversies have “deeply eroded the confidence of lakhs of students and their families in the country’s medical entrance examination system.” It added that the uncertainty surrounding admissions has had a severe impact on aspirants’ mental health.
“The repeated allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET examination have severely eroded the confidence of lakhs of students and their families in the country’s medical entrance examination system. These recurring incidents have caused unprecedented psychological distress among aspirants. It is deeply concerning that several students have reportedly lost their lives by suicide in the aftermath of these controversies, highlighting the devastating human cost of systemic failures and the urgent need for meaningful reforms,” the association said.
FAIMA said it has received “countless representations” from students demanding transparent investigations, verification of OMR sheets, publication of detailed score calculations and accountability from the examination authority. It added that the latest complaints regarding Re-NEET 2026 have further weakened public confidence in the examination process.
The doctors’ body urged the President to ensure an independent inquiry into all instances of NEET-related irregularities, public disclosure of findings, accountability of officials responsible for lapses and comprehensive structural reforms within the NTA. It also called for restoring students’ faith in the examination system through greater transparency and fairness.
In its letter, FAIMA further sought a fair review of the Re-NEET 2026 results, saying students affected by possible evaluation errors should receive justice through a transparent grievance redressal mechanism.
