Maharashtra TET 2026 postponed after suspected paper leak in Thane

The Maharashtra State Council of Examination MSCE has postponed the Teacher Eligibility Test TET 2026 which was scheduled to be held on Sunday after a police raid in Thane district uncovered suspects allegedly in possession of questions matching the examination paperThe decision was taken following a joint operation by the Bhiwandi Police and examination authorities who confirmed that several questions recovered during the raid were identical to those prepared for the June 2026 examinationThe postponement affects more than 428 lakh candidates who had registered to appear for the examination at 1028 centres across MaharashtraRaid uncovers suspected paper leakAccording to the Thane district administration the suspected paper leak came to light in the early hours of Saturday after police received confidential information that a group of individuals in Bhiwandi had gained unauthorised access to the TET question paperPolice immediately conducted a raid at the suspected location and detained several individualsSenior officials from the Maharashtra State Council of Examination were called to verify the documents recovered during the operationAfter examining the seized material officials confirmed that several questions matched the actual TET 2026 question paper prepared for Sundays examinationFollowing the discovery a criminal case was registered at the Bhiwandi Police Station and an investigation was launchedMSCE postpones examinationAnnouncing the decision the Maharashtra State Council of Examination said the examination was being postponed to ensure transparency and facilitate a comprehensive investigationThe Council remains firmly committed to conducting the examination with complete transparency Given the gravity of the situation and the necessity for an indepth probe the exam scheduled for June 28 2026 has been postponed the council said in a statementThe council reiterated its zerotolerance policy towards examination malpractice and said the postponement was necessary to preserve the integrity of the recruitment processHighlevel investigation underwayAccording to officials the Education Department and Thane Police have launched a joint investigation to identify those responsible for the suspected leakInvestigators are examining how the question paper was accessed and whether any internal officials printing agencies or others connected with the examination process were involvedThe MSCE said an extensive investigation is underway to identify the mastermind behind the suspected leak and determine whether any internal network or printing press had been compromisedAuthorities are also analysing the seized material and questioning the detained suspects as part of the investigationOver 428 lakh candidates affectedA total of 428122 candidates had registered for the Maharashtra TET 2026 which was to be conducted in two sessions across 1028 examination centresMany aspirants had already travelled to their allotted centres when news of the postponement was announced leading to disappointment and frustration among candidatesThe Maharashtra TET is a mandatory eligibility examination for candidates seeking to become teachers for primary Classes 1 to 5 and upper primary Classes 6 to 8 schools in the stateThe MSCE has assured candidates that revised examination dates and updated guidelines will be announced soon through its official websiteWith inputs from Agencies