The controversy surrounding NEET UG 2026 has taken a new turn after allegations surfaced that a group of brokers was offering admission to government medical colleges by manipulating candidates’ OMR answer sheets for a hefty payment. The claims come at a time when the medical entrance examination is already under intense scrutiny following the paper leak row and the subsequent decision to conduct a re-examination.
According to reports, a candidate from Gujarat approached authorities after allegedly being contacted by intermediaries who claimed they could secure enough marks for admission to a government medical college by tampering with OMR sheets. The alleged demand was around Rs. 20 lakh per candidate.
Alleged racket avoided promises of top ranks
The complainant claimed that the brokers did not offer unrealistically high scores or top ranks. Instead, they allegedly promised to increase marks only to the extent required for securing admission to a government medical college, a strategy reportedly designed to avoid raising suspicion during scrutiny.
The matter has reportedly been brought to the attention of the Gujarat Cyber Crime Cell through a written complaint, prompting calls for a detailed investigation into the claims.
OMR manipulation concerns have surfaced before
The allegations have renewed concerns about the security of OMR-based examinations. In recent years, courts and investigating agencies have examined multiple cases involving alleged OMR manipulation linked to medical entrance examinations. The Gujarat High Court recently observed that allegations in a NEET-UG 2024 OMR manipulation case warranted a full trial after investigators claimed students’ answer sheets were altered to inflate scores.
Authorities have also previously received complaints from candidates alleging discrepancies in uploaded OMR sheets, though such claims have been disputed by examination authorities in several instances.
NEET UG 2026 already facing scrutiny
The latest allegations come against the backdrop of the wider NEET UG 2026 controversy. The examination conducted on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak, and a fresh examination has been scheduled for June 21. Multiple investigations are underway, while courts and parliamentary bodies are also examining issues related to the conduct of the exam.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed the OMR manipulation allegations, and investigations are expected to determine whether any such network was actually capable of influencing examination outcomes.