NEET Scam Alert: NTA Says Students Using AI to Fake Answer Sheets, Warns of FIR

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a public notice cautioning NEET (UG) 2026 candidates and their guardians against submitting fabricated, digitally altered or AI-generated OMR answer sheets and score cards while seeking re-evaluation of their results. The Agency said several such representations, received after the declaration of the NEET (UG) 2026 result, were found on examination to be forged, and warned that candidates found submitting them face criminal liability under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

What NTA Has Said

NTA said it has received several representations from candidates, or persons acting on their behalf, claiming that the OMR sheet uploaded against their Roll Number does not belong to them or shows fewer marked responses than claimed. On examining these representations, the Agency found the genuine OMR sheet on record – carrying the correct Roll Number, Test Booklet Number, barcode, signatures and thumb impression – matches the declared score, while the image submitted by the candidate was found to be fabricated.

Patterns of Fabrication Flagged by NTA

NTA listed four recurring patterns it has detected:

• AI-based regeneration of pre-printed sections of the OMR sheet, such as instructions, column headers and question numbers
• Digital overwriting of identity fields (name, parentage, signature, thumb impression) on a genuine OMR image while keeping the barcode and shading unchanged
• Alteration of marks or response counts on a downloaded score card while the QR code still points to the genuine record
• Insertion of a fictitious candidate identity that does not match any registered NEET (UG) 2026 candidate

Legal Consequences

According to the notice, creating, possessing, using or circulating a fabricated OMR sheet, score card or other examination document is a cognisable offence under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and separately attracts liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. Consequences include imprisonment, fines, cancellation of candidature and debarment from future NTA examinations. The Agency said it may also pursue legal action against third parties – such as consultants or coaching institutes – found to have prepared or circulated such documents.

How Genuine Grievances Can Still Be Raised

NTA clarified that candidates with a genuine grievance can still submit a representation through the Agency’s helpdesk, quoting their Application Number, Roll Number and the specific discrepancy alleged. Candidates are advised not to attach any document that isn’t an original copy issued by NTA or downloaded from its own portal. Any representation backed by a fabricated document will attract action regardless of whether the candidate says a third party misled them, and candidates will be expected to disclose that third party’s identity.

Key Points at a Glance