Education – Maharashtra Leaders Trade Barbs Over TET Paper Leak and Exam Delay
Education – Maharashtra’s political leadership has exchanged sharp remarks over the cancellation of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 after an alleged question paper leak, with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde responding strongly to criticism raised by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The issue has drawn attention as thousands of aspiring teachers continue to await clarity on the revised examination schedule after the test was postponed.
Shinde Responds to Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations
Addressing reporters, Eknath Shinde defended the state government’s handling of the alleged paper leak, stating that law enforcement agencies acted quickly after receiving information about the suspected leak. According to him, the police identified and dismantled the network linked to the case before the examination could take place. He said the government would ensure that those responsible face strict legal consequences to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Shinde also accused the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of witnessing multiple recruitment examination paper leaks during its tenure. Referring to earlier incidents involving recruitment tests, he claimed that examinations related to CET, TET and Health Department recruitment had faced similar controversies on three separate occasions while the MVA was in power.
TET Examination Postponed Following Police Investigation
The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) had postponed the Teacher Eligibility Test, originally scheduled for June 28, after information gathered during a police investigation in Bhiwandi pointed to a possible question paper leak. The examination was planned to be conducted at 1,028 centres across Maharashtra.
In an official notification, the Council stated that enhanced security measures had already been introduced following irregularities reported during the NEET 2026 examination. However, confidential intelligence received shortly before the scheduled test indicated that certain individuals were allegedly in possession of sensitive information linked to the TET question paper, prompting authorities to postpone the examination as a precautionary measure.
Rahul Gandhi Raises Concerns for Aspirants
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi criticised the Maharashtra government, claiming that nearly six lakh candidates had been left uncertain after the examination was cancelled. He pointed out that even weeks after the postponement, no revised examination date had been announced, leaving aspiring teachers waiting for official clarity.
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi expressed concern over the situation faced by candidates who had spent months preparing for the examination. He said many aspirants had completed application formalities, paid examination fees and travelled long distances in anticipation of the test, only to face uncertainty after its cancellation.
The Congress leader also alleged that those responsible for the paper leak had not yet been held accountable, while honest candidates were bearing the consequences of the disruption.
Demand for Fresh Schedule and Action Against Accused
Rahul Gandhi urged the Maharashtra government to announce a fresh examination date at the earliest. He also called for stringent action against individuals involved in the alleged paper leak and sought age relaxation for candidates whose eligibility could be affected because of the delay.
Meanwhile, Shinde reiterated that the state government was committed to protecting the integrity of recruitment examinations. He maintained that authorities had acted promptly and assured that strong legal action would be taken against those found responsible. Alongside his response on the examination issue, Shinde also criticised Gandhi over his political conduct and remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding another layer to the ongoing political exchange.
As candidates continue to await further announcements from the Maharashtra State Council of Examination, the focus remains on the investigation and the government’s decision regarding the rescheduled Teacher Eligibility Test.