The Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), scheduled for June 28, 2026, has been postponed after reports of a question paper leak surfaced in Thane district. The state education department confirmed the decision and said that a new exam date will be announced soon.
The cancellation comes just a day before the exam, leaving nearly 4.28 lakh candidates across Maharashtra in uncertainty. The exam was supposed to be held at 1,428 centres across the state.
Police Action in Thane Leads to Leak Confirmation
According to officials, the issue came to light after a police operation in the Bhiwandi area of Thane early on June 27. Acting on a tip-off, police raided a location where suspected question papers were recovered.
Authorities later said that the seized documents closely matched the actual TET question paper, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the examination process. At least three people have been detained in connection with the case, and an FIR has been registered at Bhiwandi police station.
Education Department Orders Postponement
The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) said it took the decision to postpone the exam after receiving credible inputs about a possible leak.
An official statement said that maintaining transparency and fairness was the priority, and therefore the examination was deferred immediately. The department also confirmed that a revised schedule will be issued after the investigation progresses.
State Education Minister Pankaj Bhoyar said, “We have confirmed irregularities in Thane. The examination will now be conducted with complete transparency after reviewing all security protocols.”
Nearly 4.28 Lakh Candidates Affected
The sudden decision has impacted lakhs of candidates, including over 2.26 lakh in-service teachers who were appearing for TET qualification and thousands of aspirants aiming for teaching jobs.
Many candidates expressed frustration, saying they had already completed preparations and were ready to appear for the exam when the postponement was announced. The exam was earlier scheduled across hundreds of centres statewide.
Investigation and Concerns Over Exam Security
Police are now investigating how the question paper was accessed and whether a larger network is involved in the leak. Officials said further arrests are possible as the probe continues.
The incident has once again raised concerns about repeated question paper leaks in Maharashtra. Similar allegations were reported in previous years as well, including a case in 2025 from Kolhapur.
Education experts and candidates have questioned the examination system, demanding stricter security measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Candidates Express Anger and Disappointment
Several aspirants criticized the repeated disruptions in competitive examinations, saying that strict security checks are imposed on candidates but failures at administrative levels go unpunished.
Candidates said that months of preparation, financial costs, and mental pressure are wasted due to such incidents, and demanded accountability from officials responsible for exam security.
