IOQM 2026 Cheating Notice: Banned Schools, Probationary Schools & Revised Cutoffs
IOQM 2026 Cheating Notice has been released on the official website. It is to take action against the schools and students involved in the IOQM Olympiad cheating practices. The schools mentioned in the notice are banned for being involved in cheating. Some schools are kept on probation.
IOQM 2026 Cheating Notice: The Mathematics Teachers’ Association (India), also known as MTA(I), has taken action against cheating in the Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) 2026. The notice names schools that have been banned or placed under probation.
The notice also explains how these actions affect the Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO) 2026. Students can check their status through the official IOQM website. The aim is to keep the examination fair for honest students.
Why Was the IOQM 2026 Cheating Notice Issued?
MTA(I) uses statistical checks, reports and internal reviews to find possible cheating. Most schools conduct the exam honestly, but a few cases need attention.
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Cheating at the school level: Some schools may have tried to help their own students unfairly. In certain cases, this could change the cutoff marks in a region.
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Large-scale cheating: A group of related schools appeared to be involved in a planned attempt to affect the examination results. This was found in one school group this year.
According to the notice, fewer than 1% of students have been flagged. The action affects only a small number of regions.
IOQM 2026 Cheating Notice Download PDF
Banned Schools in IOQM 2026
Students from schools marked “Banned” cannot appear for RMO 2026 and cannot receive IOQM certificates. However, they can challenge the ban through the appeal process.
|
Region |
Banned schools |
|
Rajasthan-DL |
Krishna Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Alwar |
|
Rajasthan-RJ |
TCI Senior Secondary School, Jaipur; CLC Higher Secondary School, Sikar |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
Five listed Sri Chaitanya school entries in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Vijayawada |
|
Telangana |
Meridian High School, Siddipet; Nageshwara Rao High School, Hanamkonda |
|
Tamil Nadu |
Arka The Green School, Kanyakumari; Dharani Vidhya Manthir Senior Secondary School, Mannargudi |
Probationary Schools in IOQM 2026
Probation is different from a ban. Students from probationary schools may still appear for RMO or receive certificates if they meet the required conditions.
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Hanfia Model Higher Secondary School, Kreeri, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir.
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Sri Chaitanya School, Karimnagar, Telangana.
Some Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) have also been flagged. The concerned schools are being contacted directly.
Students from probationary schools must declare that they have not taken part in cheating. Their eligibility depends on meeting the relevant cutoffs and following the official rules.
IOQM 2026 Revised Cutoffs
Students may wonder why the IOQM cutoff marks have changed. MTA(I) has excluded the students covered by these actions while calculating the revised cutoffs.
According to the notice, the cutoffs in affected regions are now in line with those of 2024 and 2025 after considering two points:
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Five marks for the cancelled question.
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A general rise of about two marks this year.
Students should check their individual status instead of relying only on cutoff lists shared online.
To check the IOQM result, visit the official IOQM website and log in. The portal shows the status of affected students.
Appeal Process and Cutoff Adjustments
Candidates from banned institutions who intend to challenge their status must email student.helpdesk@ioqm.mtai.org.in by 24 October 2026, 8:00 PM IST. Students eligible for RMO must present a prescribed notarised affidavit at their examination centre, while those not eligible must physically submit it to the MTA(I) office at HBCSE, Mumbai.
False declarations will lead to permanent debarment from HBCSE Olympiads and reporting to Institutions of National Importance, including IITs, NITs, IISc, IISERs, AIIMS, and SPAs. Revised cutoff determinations exclude flagged candidates, incorporate a 5-mark allowance for an annulled question, and apply an approximate 2-mark rise to align standards with 2024 and 2025.
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IOQM 2026 Cheating Notice FAQs
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