Maharashtra TET 2026 cancelled after question paper leak detected a day before exam

The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE) cancelled the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026, scheduled to be held on June 28, after a suspected question paper leak was uncovered during a police raid in Bhiwandi, Thane district, a day before the examination.

The exam was to be conducted at 1,028 centres across Maharashtra for 4,28,122 registered candidates. The council said the decision was taken to ensure transparency and fairness in the examination process.

The last-minute cancellation left many candidates stranded after they had already travelled to their examination centres.

According to the MSCE, intelligence agencies received confidential information on Saturday that a group of individuals in Bhiwandi had gained unauthorised access to the TET question papers. Acting on the tip-off, Bhiwandi Police conducted a raid, detained several suspects and seized incriminating material.

Senior MSCE officials were immediately called to verify the recovered documents. Upon examination, they found that the questions seized during the raid matched those prepared for the actual Maharashtra TET 2026 examination. Following confirmation of the breach, an FIR was registered at Bhiwandi Police Station against the accused.

The Education Department and Thane Police have launched a joint investigation to identify the mastermind behind the leak, determine how the examination security protocols were compromised and examine whether any internal officials or others were involved.

The MSCE has assured candidates that a fresh examination date will be announced after the investigation progresses. All updates regarding the revised examination schedule, fresh admit cards and related instructions will be published on the council's official website.

Existing admit cards will not be valid for the rescheduled examination, and candidates will be required to download fresh hall tickets once the new date is announced.

The council has not announced any refund policy, as the examination has been cancelled for now and is expected to be conducted on a later date. Authorities have urged candidates to rely only on official announcements from the MSCE for updates on the revised examination schedule.

The council has also said that there will be no change in the examination pattern or syllabus, and further instructions regarding admit cards and other procedures will be issued through the official MSCE website.

The Maharashtra TET is a mandatory eligibility examination for candidates seeking teaching positions in primary (Classes 1–5) and upper primary (Classes 6–8) schools across the state.

The incident has triggered sharp political reactions, with opposition parties accusing the Maharashtra government of failing to prevent recurring examination irregularities. They argued that repeated paper leak allegations have eroded the credibility of recruitment and eligibility examinations in the state.

The development has reignited concerns over recurring examination paper leak incidents, with several aspirants drawing parallels with recent controversies involving national examinations such as NEET, while demanding stricter safeguards and greater accountability in the conduct of competitive examinations.