Fact Check: Were NEET UG 2026 Marks Miscalculated? NTA Responds to Candidate Allegations

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday issued a detailed public clarification addressing complaints from several NEET-UG 2026 candidates who alleged irregularities in their OMR sheets and scorecards following the declaration of results. The agency stated that it had examined individual representations and found the official records consistent. The response comes amid ongoing public scrutiny of the examination process, including protests related to broader concerns over NEET conduct.

NTA's Case-by-Case Rebuttals

The NTA addressed specific claims by five candidates whose allegations had gained attention on social media. In each instance, the agency verified the genuine OMR sheets on record, which matched scores already declared.

Arya Singh

Arya Singh from Kanpur had questioned her result, claiming mismatches in question order on an initially uploaded OMR sheet and subsequent score changes on the portal. The NTA stated that the image being circulated is a digitally altered version of the genuine sheet. It noted changes such as the recorded time of an invigilator's signature (altered from 3:45 PM to 2:45 PM) and other markings of manipulation. Her verified score stands at 167 marks.

Regarding claims by Ms. Arya Singh (App No. 260410434102) about her NEET (UG) 2026 OMR answer sheet:

NTA has verified the record.

The genuine OMR of the candidate is with NTA. It was also emailed to her at the registered e-mail address during the OMR Response Key challenge…

— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) July 20, 2026

Lakshya Singh

The candidate alleged discrepancies in response markings. According to the NTA, the circulated image shows additional bubbles shaded digitally that are absent from the genuine sheet. Of 180 questions, he attempted 54 (34 correct, 20 incorrect) and left 126 unattempted. His verified score is 116 marks.

Regarding claims by Shri Lakshya Singh (App No. 260412053016) about his NEET (UG) 2026 OMR answer sheet:

NTA has verified the record.

The genuine OMR of the candidate is with NTA. It was also emailed to him at the registered e-mail address during the OMR Response Key challenge…

— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) July 20, 2026

Abhay Yadav

Abhay Yadav claimed he left only five questions unattempted and expected 634 marks. The NTA clarified that records show 44 questions left unattempted, with the OMR and calculation sheet consistent. His verified score is 164 marks. The agency described public claims at variance with records as an offence.

Regarding claims by Shri Abhay Yadav (App No. 260411367191) about his NEET (UG) 2026 OMR answer sheet and result:

NTA has verified the record.

The genuine OMR of the candidate is with NTA. It was also emailed to him at the registered e-mail address during the OMR Response Key…

— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) July 20, 2026

Pratibha Trivedi

The NTA said the image in circulation is a significantly digitally altered version of the genuine OMR sheet. Her verified score stands at 38 marks.

Regarding claims by Ms. Pratibha Trivedi (App No. 260412140662) about her NEET (UG) 2026 OMR answer sheet:

NTA has verified the record.

The genuine OMR of the candidate is with NTA. It was also emailed to her at the registered e-mail address during the OMR Response Key…

— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) July 20, 2026

Avaneesh Srivastava

The agency noted that the circulated image is not an official NTA OMR sheet. It features overwritten identity details for a non-existent candidate ("Ajeet Singh, son of Shri Lakhan Singh and Smt. Reena Singh"). The image appears to be a digitally regenerated version of Srivastava's genuine sheet using AI or OCR tools, with visible errors. His verified score is 337 marks, and the genuine OMR on record includes correct candidate and parent details along with signatures.

Regarding claims about Shri Avaneesh Srivastava (App No. 260411198880, Roll No. 2001805051) and his NEET (UG) 2026 OMR answer sheet:

NTA has verified the record.

The genuine OMR of the candidate is on file. It was also emailed to him at the registered e-mail address during the…

— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) July 20, 2026

The NTA received multiple representations after the NEET-UG 2026 results were declared. Some candidates or their representatives submitted what they claimed were correct OMR sheets, alleging interchanges, fewer attempted answers than reported, or evaluation errors.

ts notice dated July 20, 2026, the agency emphasized that genuine OMR sheets carry verifiable unique identifiers such as barcodes, booklet numbers, QR codes, candidate details, signatures, and thumb impressions. These match official evaluation records and the declared scores based on the answer key. Fabricated documents, it said, cannot override server records.

The NTA has identified common manipulation methods, including AI-based regeneration of OMR printed sections, digital overwriting of names/signatures, and alterations to scorecards while leaving QR codes intact.

Warnings and Next Steps

The agency warned that creating, possessing, submitting, or circulating forged or AI-generated examination documents is a cognisable offence under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. It may initiate legal proceedings against candidates and third parties involved. No re-evaluation will be done based on fabricated images.

Candidates with genuine grievances are advised to use the official helpdesk with their application number, roll number, and specific details. The NTA stated it has emailed genuine OMR sheets to candidates during the response key challenge window.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2026 12:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).