Internal investigation underway after Odisha medical exam ‘breach’

Authorities said someone managed to ‘smuggle’ a device into the examination hall to photograph and share the question paper despite routine frisking.

Updated on: Jul 31, 2026, 10:15:37 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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An internal investigation has been launched after photographs of a question paper of the Odisha medical postgraduate examination were allegedly circulated on WhatsApp while the test was underway, officials said on Thursday, adding that it was not a “leak” as the paper surfaced online after exams began.

Odisha medical exam paper shared on WhatsApp during test amid NEET leak outrage. (REPRESENTATIVE)

The alleged breach occurred on July 27 during the General Surgery theory examination for the 2023-26 MS/MD batch conducted by the Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS), officials said, adding, photographs of the question paper surfaced on social media minutes after the examination began.

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Paper allegedly circulated on WhatsApp

The issue came to light after a postgraduate student of a private medical college in Bhubaneswar reported receiving the images through a WhatsApp group allegedly created by a student of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, officials said. Some students also alleged that answers to the questions were circulated from certain phone numbers while the examination was in progress.

OUHS orders tighten security

After being informed of the incident on the evening of July 27, OUHS vice-chancellor Manas Ranjan Sahoo held a virtual meeting with principals of medical colleges under OUHS conducting the examinations and directed them to strengthen security measures for the remaining papers, MKCG Medical College dean-cum-principal Harekrushna Dalai said.

'Not a paper leak, but paper smuggled out'

“It is not a question paper leak. Had the question paper come out before the exam and reached the students, we could have termed it a leak. But, in this case, the question paper came out from the exam hall soon after the question papers were handed out. This is more like the paper being smuggled out of the examination hall soon after it was distributed,” Dalai said.

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He said an internal inquiry was underway to identify the device used to circulate the question paper and determine how it entered the examination hall.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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