Nearly two months after the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 was postponed on Saturday, just a day before the scheduled examination, after police in Thane district discovered that a portion of the question paper had been leaked.
Massive Impact on Candidates
With nearly six lakh candidates affected, the postponement has sparked widespread outrage. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) announced that a revised schedule will be published on its website. Candidates who have already registered will not need to register again, and no re-registration fee will be charged, according to MSCE Deputy Commissioner Priya Shinde. She noted that organizing an examination of this scale typically takes around three weeks.
Arrests and Investigation
The Bhiwandi Police arrested three individuals from Bihar and Haryana, who were found in possession of copies of the TET-2026 question paper. The police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Pawan Bansod. Multiple teams have been dispatched to other states to trace the source of the leak. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act.
“Given the gravity of the situation, the examination scheduled for June 28 has been postponed,” the MSCE said, emphasizing the need for transparency and a thorough investigation.
Political Reactions
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde termed the leak “highly outrageous” and said he would discuss with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis the possibility of invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the masterminds. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal questioned the political protection behind the racket, noting that the leak occurred in Thane district, considered Shinde’s stronghold.
Opposition leaders accused the BJP-led government of focusing on political defections rather than ensuring foolproof examinations. The incident has revived memories of the NEET-UG paper leak, raising concerns about the integrity of competitive exams in the state.
