NTA Says Viral NEET UG 2026 OMR Sheets Are Fake; Issues Official Clarification

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued an official public notice on July 20, 2026, dismissing claims surrounding viral NEET UG 2026 OMR sheets circulating on social media. According to the agency, these images are digitally fabricated and do not represent genuine OMR response sheets issued by NTA.

The agency has also warned that creating or sharing forged OMR sheets is a punishable offence under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Candidates are advised to trust only official NTA communications for any NEET UG 2026 latest updates.

Why Did NTA Issue This Clarification?

The NTA OMR sheet clarification comes after several edited OMR images began circulating online, claiming to show the "correct" answer sheets of NEET UG 2026 candidates.

To prevent confusion and misinformation, NTA clarified that:

• Viral OMR images are not issued by the agency.

• Social media claims regarding these OMR sheets are misleading.

• Every candidate's original OMR response sheet is securely maintained by NTA.

• The official clarification aims to protect candidates from fake information before the counselling process.

Candidates should avoid relying on unofficial screenshots or edited documents shared on messaging platforms and social media.

What Did NTA Say About the Viral OMR Sheets?

In its official statement, NTA clearly stated that the NEET 2026 viral OMR images are digitally manipulated.

According to the agency:

• The genuine OMR of every candidate is available in NTA records.

• Original OMR sheets were uploaded to each candidate's login portal.

• The same OMR response sheet was also sent to candidates through their registered email during the OMR Response Key challenge window.

• The viral images being circulated as the "correct" OMR are digitally fabricated.

• These documents have not been issued by NTA.

This serves as an official NEET 2026 fact check, confirming that candidates should only refer to their authenticated OMR response sheet.

How Does NTA Verify the Original OMR Sheet?

The official NEET UG 2026 OMR response sheet contains multiple security and identification features that help NTA verify authenticity.

An original OMR generally includes:

• Candidate Roll Number

• Test Booklet Number

• OMR Barcode

• Serial Number

• Candidate Details

• Candidate Signature

• Thumb Impression

• Linked Answer Key

• Official Evaluation Record

These details are digitally matched with the examination database before the final result is prepared.

Because of these security measures, forged OMR sheets can be easily identified during verification.

Did NTA Find Any Evaluation Errors?

No.

As part of its NEET UG 2026 official clarification, NTA stated that the evaluation has been carried out using the original OMR sheets available in its official records.

The agency has not reported any evaluation error linked to the fake OMR images circulating online.

Candidates can therefore rely on the scorecards and results published by NTA, as they are based solely on authenticated records.

Legal Action Against Fake OMR Sheets

NTA has issued a strong warning against the creation and circulation of forged OMR sheets.

According to the official notice, such activities may attract legal action under:

• Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023

• Information Technology Act, 2000

The agency stated that preparing, editing, sharing, or circulating fake OMR documents can amount to a criminal offence.

Candidates and social media users are advised not to forward unverified OMR images or participate in spreading misinformation.

What Should NEET UG 2026 Candidates Do?

If you appeared for the examination, follow these precautions:

• Refer only to your original OMR available through the NTA portal.

• Check only official notifications released by NTA.

• Do not trust screenshots circulating on social media.

• Report any genuine concern through the official grievance mechanism.

• Keep copies of your official OMR response sheet and scorecard for future reference.

Following verified information will help candidates avoid unnecessary confusion during counselling