Maharashtra Shifts All State Exams Online After TET Leak

Maharashtra Minister of School Education Dadaji Bhuse announced that the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and all state public competitive examinations will transition to a secure online format starting next year. This policy shift follows a high-profile leak of the TET-2026 examination papers, which led to the postponement of the exam on June 27, 2026.

Thane City Police arrested three individuals, including primary accused Rajiv Shriprayag Shaw, after recovering authentic question papers the group intended to sell for up to Rs 1.5 crore. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a Special Investigation Team, led by Thane Joint Commissioner of Police Panjabrao Ugale, to probe the network. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Minister Bhuse indicated that the government is exploring the application of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to prosecute the masterminds.

The leak sparked political unrest, with the Mumbai Youth Congress staging a protest outside Bhuse's residence on June 28. Led by president Zeenat Shabreen, protesters demanded the minister's resignation, citing the breach and a previous NEET controversy as evidence of government failure. Police detained Shabreen and several workers during the demonstration.

To address the fallout, the state will organize a transparent re-examination for over six lakh affected candidates. Minister Bhuse confirmed that no examination or re-registration fees will be charged to ensure candidates face no financial penalties for the system failure.