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'I Attempted 165 Questions, Not 41': NEET Candidate Claims NTA OMR Sheet Error
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2026 has become the center of controversy once again. This time, a NEET aspirant from Karnataka has complained that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has uploaded an incorrect Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet. According to the student, the NTA’s uploaded OMR showed that she attempted 41 questions. With this, she received a total score of -11. In contrast, she claims that based on the NEET official answer key, she should have received a score of 668. Based on this information, the student claims that she answered 165 questions out of 180.
The claim has brought up concerns with the NEET evaluation process once again. This is even more valid, considering the level of scrutiny the examination has been facing from the public. While the student has made a request to access the NTA’s original physical OMR sheet, the agency has claimed that the official accounts are correct and has warned the public against the fraudulent documents that have been posted on the Internet.
What Are The Specific Claims?
Bindushree Jagdish Pawar, an applicant from Haveri District of Karnataka, alleged that the OMR sheet published by the exam authorities bears an answer sheet that is different from the answer sheet she remembers filling. She also alleged the following:
- She marked 165 questions.
- The OMR sheet published records her as having answered only 41 questions.
- The score declared is -11.
- Per the official answer key, she believes her score would be approximately 668.
She also challenged the entry and exit times, the bubbling pattern, and the fingerprint impression on the OMR sheet; she alleges they are inconsistent with her examination.
What is the applicant seeking?
After the result was published, she claims that she has contacted the NTA many times via email and the official helpline requesting that her original OMR sheet be verified. She primarily requests the release or verification of the original OMR answer sheet. She has argued that this would assist in determining if an error occurred during scoring or if there was a discrepancy in the documents.
What is the NTA’s response?
NTA has refuted multiple claims related to alleged discrepancies in OMR sheets. The agency has stated that images circulating on social media are fabrications and do not constitute official records of the NTA. In a public notice, NTA has stated: Each complaint has been evaluated. The original OMR sheets held by the agency are consistent with the scores declared. Circulation of forged or manipulated OMR sheets may result in legal consequences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
OMR Discrepancy Cases Go to Courts
Discrepancies between the uploaded OMR sheets of several candidates and the scores declared by the NTA have prompted petitions to various High Courts. The Bombay High Court has ordered the NTA to produce original OMR answer sheets of petitioners who have reported significant discrepancies between the recorded responses and the scores, and petitions of this nature are pending in other High Courts, including the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.
Why is this Important?
As the largest entrance examination for undergraduate courses in medicine in India, NEET is the examination that determines entry to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses. Since medical admission is completely based on rank, very small differences in rank are the basis for lost admission. This is one of the reasons NEET-related cases have high public and judicial interest. OMR-related complaints have public and judicial interest, but they also require verification of discrepancies since complaints do not prove that a discrepancy has occurred.
What Happens Next?
The Karnataka student continues to demand verification of the original OMR sheet. It is not known if this will happen via an administrative review or through the courts. The NTA has mandated that candidates rely solely on the documentation that is derived through official channels and has advised the public not to disseminate or rely on altered OMR sheets that are circulating in social media.
Final Thoughts
The recent NEET UG 2026 OMR controversy continues to show the need for enhanced examination accountability and transparency, as seen by the increasing complaints from examination candidates. While the Karnataka candidate claims that her uploaded OMR does not correspond with the one she coded, the NTA is standing by the veracity of their records and has stated that the OMR images that have been altered and published are erroneous. Many similar issues are currently undergoing litigation, and it is highly expected that official investigations and court inquiries will shed more light on these cases, as opposed to the complaints made in the public domain.
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