Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE), Pune, has postponed the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 after an alleged question paper leak was detected nearly 24 hours before the examination. The exam, which was scheduled to be held on June 28, has been postponed until further notice, affecting approximately 4.28 lakh candidates across the state.

The decision was taken to ensure fairness and transparency in the recruitment process after police recovered documents that reportedly matched parts of the original examination paper.

Question Paper Leak Discovered Before the Exam

According to officials, the case came to light after Bhiwandi Police received confidential information that certain individuals were in possession of confidential TET examination material.

Police conducted a raid on Saturday morning and recovered documents containing questions that were found to be substantially similar to the official TET 2026 question paper.

The recovered material was immediately sent to the Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) for verification. After examining the documents, officials confirmed that several questions matched the original examination paper.

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MSCE Announces Postponement

Following the verification, MSCE decided to postpone the examination scheduled for June 28, 2026.

In an official statement, the council said maintaining the integrity, transparency, and fairness of the examination process is its highest priority. To ensure equal opportunity for every candidate, the examination has been deferred until the investigation is completed.

The council also informed candidates that a new examination date will be announced through its official website after the investigation concludes.

More Than 4.28 Lakh Candidates Affected

The Maharashtra TET is one of the state's most important eligibility examinations for candidates seeking teaching jobs in government and aided schools.

This year, around 428,000 candidates had registered to appear at 1,028 examination centres across Maharashtra.

The sudden postponement has created uncertainty for lakhs of aspirants who had been preparing for months.

Many candidates travelling from rural and distant districts may now face additional accommodation and travel expenses, while the delay could also impact future teacher recruitment schedules.

Police Register FIR, Investigation Begins

An FIR has been registered at Bhiwandi Police Station, and investigators have launched a detailed probe into the alleged paper leak.

Police are currently investigating several key questions, including:

• How did the confidential question paper leak before the examination?
• Who was responsible for leaking the paper?
• Whether any officials or employees connected to the examination process were involved.
• How many candidates may have received access to the leaked questions.

Investigators are also examining mobile phones, digital communications, electronic devices, and other evidence to identify those involved in the leak.

Fresh Concerns Over Examination Security

The incident has once again raised serious concerns about the security of competitive examinations in India.

The alleged TET paper leak comes after several major examination controversies reported in recent years, including the widely discussed NEET examination paper leak, which sparked nationwide debates over examination integrity.

Education experts have called for stronger digital security systems, tighter monitoring during paper printing and transportation, and stricter accountability throughout the examination process.

Not the First TET Paper Leak

This is not the first time the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test has faced allegations of a paper leak.

In 2025, another TET paper leak case was reported from Kolhapur, prompting authorities to promise stronger security measures for future examinations.

However, the latest incident has raised fresh questions about whether those security improvements were effectively implemented.

What Happens Next?

Authorities have assured candidates that the examination will only be conducted after the investigation is completed and appropriate safeguards are put in place.

The Maharashtra government and MSCE are expected to:

• Announce a fresh examination date.
• Take legal action against those responsible.
• Strengthen question paper security systems.
• Introduce additional monitoring mechanisms to prevent future leaks.

Candidates have been advised to regularly check the official MSCE website for updates regarding the revised examination schedule.

Outlook

The postponement of the Maharashtra TET 2026 examination has come as a major setback for over four lakh teaching aspirants. As police continue investigating the alleged paper leak, education authorities face increasing pressure to restore public confidence in the examination system and ensure that future recruitment exams are conducted in a fair, transparent, and secure manner.