Maharashtra TET 2026 cancelled following question paper leak in Thane day before exam; case registered
Mumbai, June 27
The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations on Saturday abruptly cancelled the Teacher Eligibility Test 2026, which was scheduled to be held on Sunday. The decision comes after a joint raid by the Bhiwandi Police exposed a major question paper leak just a day before the statewide examination.
The exam was set to take place across 1,028 centres in Maharashtra. Council officials stated that the postponement was necessary to maintain absolute transparency and fairness for all candidates. The postponement of TET has thrown the future of over 428,122 candidates in limbo and sparked widespread outrage across the state.
According to an official release, Intelligence agencies received confidential information in the early hours of Saturday indicating that a group of individuals in Bhiwandi (Thane district) had unauthorised access to the TET question papers.
Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a team from the Bhiwandi Police Department raided the location. During the operation, law enforcement personnel detained several suspects and seized incriminating materials.
Senior officials from the MSCE were immediately summoned to the spot by the police to verify the seized documents.
Upon a detailed cross-examination, officials discovered a definitive match as the questions found in the possession of the detained individuals were identical to the questions drafted for the actual June 2026 Teacher Eligibility Test.
Following the confirmation of the breach, an official First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Bhiwandi Police Station against the accused individuals. Taking a serious note of the security lapse, the MSCE decided to call off Sunday's exam to ensure a thorough, comprehensive probe.
The Education Department and Thane Police have launched a high-level joint investigation to trace the mastermind behind the leak, map out how the security protocol was breached, and determine if any internal Board officials were involved.
The MSCE has assured candidates that a fresh date for the Maharashtra TET 2026 will be finalised soon. All updates regarding the rescheduled examination dates and revised guidelines will be published directly on the official website of the Maharashtra State Council of Examinations.
An extensive investigation is currently underway to identify the mastermind behind the leak and determine if any internal network or printing press was compromised, said the MSCE release.
The MAHA TET is a mandatory benchmark for candidates aspiring to teach in primary (Classes 1-5) and upper primary (Classes 6-8) schools across Maharashtra.
A total of 4,28,122 candidates had registered to take the exam in two separate sessions across the state. Many applicants had already travelled long distances to reach their designated exam centres, only to be met with the news of the sudden cancellation.
The cancellation has led to massive frustration among aspirants, drawing sharp parallels to recent nationwide controversies surrounding the NEET and UGC-NET paper leaks.
Candidates are demanding stricter implementation of anti-paper leak laws and immediate accountability from the education department.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who was supposed to take this exam tomorrow, I'm heartbroken. I've been preparing for months and travelled 4 hours from my village to Pune. Now I have to spend extra money on accommodation and travel again for the rescheduled date. The government should compensate us financially for this mess. 😢
Good decision to cancel. Better to postpone than let cheaters get ahead while honest students suffer. But the deep rot in our system is exposed again. Why are these leaks happening repeatedly? Is there no accountability? Arrest the masterminds and make an example of them. Also, whoever leaked this should be banned from all future exams.
I'm an NRI teacher considering moving back to India, and stories like this make me hesitate. The exam system needs a complete overhaul. In many countries, question papers are printed in secure offsite facilities and transported under armed guard. Why can't India adopt similar protocols? The irony is that this exam is meant to test teachers—the very people who shape future generations.
I feel for the 4.28 lakh candidates. Imagine preparing for months, traveling to centres, and then being told 'exam cancelled' at the last minute. The mental and financial toll is huge. The government must also look at how these leaks are happening—is it from printing presses, transport, or storage? Unless the entire chain is secured, this will keep happening.
There should be a national law with strict punishment—like 10 years imprisonment and heavy fines—for anyone involved in paper leaks. These crimes rob thousands of students of their dreams.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.