'I Attempted 165 Questions, Not 41': Karnataka NEET Aspirant Alleges OMR Discrepancy

A fresh controversy has emerged surrounding the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, with a Karnataka-based aspirant alleging that the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet uploaded by the National Testing Agency (NTA) does not match the answers she marked during the exam. The candidate claims she attempted 165 out of 180 questions, but the official OMR sheet reflects only 41 attempted questions, resulting in a score of –11 marks instead of the 668 marks she expected based on the final answer key.

The allegations have reignited concerns over the transparency of the NEET evaluation process, particularly after this year's paper leak controversy and re-examination.

Who Is the Candidate?

The aspirant, Bindushree Jagdish Pawar, is from Haveri district, Karnataka. She appeared for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination conducted after the original exam was cancelled due to alleged paper leak concerns.

According to Bindushree, she carefully attempted 165 questions and later calculated an expected score of 668 marks using the official final answer key. However, when the NTA uploaded her OMR sheet, she found that it recorded only 41 attempted responses, with 11 marked incorrect, resulting in a score of minus 11.

Alleged Discrepancies in the OMR Sheet

The candidate has raised multiple concerns, including:

• The uploaded OMR sheet allegedly shows only 41 attempted questions instead of 165.
• The score generated from the OMR is –11, which she says is impossible given the number of questions she answered.
• She has questioned whether the uploaded OMR sheet is actually her original response sheet.
• She has requested the authorities to provide the original physical OMR sheet for verification.

One-Minute Exam Duration Claim

Another issue highlighted by the candidate concerns the timestamps visible on the uploaded OMR record.

According to her, the record allegedly reflects an entry time of 1:56 PM and an exit time of 1:57 PM, suggesting an examination duration of only one minute. She argues that this is impossible for a three-hour national entrance examination and has sought clarification from the NTA.

Local Administration Responds

Following the complaint, district authorities reviewed CCTV footage from the examination centre.

According to the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Haveri, the footage reportedly confirms that the candidate remained inside the examination hall for the full three-hour duration. The district administration has forwarded the complaint to the NTA grievance cell and is awaiting its response.

NTA Yet to Issue Specific Clarification

At the time of writing, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has not issued a detailed public response specifically addressing Bindushree's allegations.

However, in recent weeks, the agency has stated in relation to other complaints that some alleged OMR mismatches circulated online involved fabricated or digitally altered documents and that official records matched the declared results. Whether that explanation applies to this case has not been confirmed.

Similar Complaints Surface

Bindushree's complaint is not an isolated one. Several NEET UG 2026 candidates from different states have raised concerns regarding:

• Alleged OMR mismatches.
• Differences between expected and declared scores.
• Requests for verification of original OMR sheets.

Some of these cases have also reached the courts, with judicial authorities seeking explanations from the NTA in individual petitions.

What Candidates Should Do in Case of OMR Discrepancies

Candidates who believe there is an error in their OMR sheet should:

1. Download the official OMR sheet and response record.
2. Compare it with the official answer key.
3. Submit a formal grievance through the NTA's official grievance mechanism.
4. Preserve all supporting documents, screenshots, and correspondence.
5. Seek legal remedies if the grievance remains unresolved.

FAQs

What has the Karnataka NEET aspirant alleged?

The candidate claims she attempted 165 questions, but the uploaded OMR sheet shows only 41 attempts, leading to a declared score of –11 instead of her expected 668 marks.

Who is the candidate?

The aspirant is Bindushree Jagdish Pawar from Haveri district, Karnataka, who appeared in the NEET UG 2026 re-examination.

Has the NTA responded?

As of now, the NTA has not publicly responded to this specific complaint. The district administration has forwarded the matter to the NTA's grievance cell for examination.

What evidence has been reviewed so far?

District officials have stated that CCTV footage indicates the candidate remained inside the examination centre for the full duration of the exam, and the matter has been referred to the NTA for further reviews.