Paper leak: Odisha PG medical exam under scanner after question paper allegedly surfaces on WhatsApp during test

Bhubaneswar: Amid nationwide outrage over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak and the Centre's subsequent enactment of the anti-paper leak law, allegations of a question paper leak have surfaced in a medical postgraduate examination conducted by the Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS).

According to news agency PTI, photographs of the question paper for the All Odisha Medical PG Examination were allegedly shared on WhatsApp while the examination was still in progress. The incident reportedly took place on July 27 during the General Surgery second MD/MS theory examination of the 2023-26 batch.

The photographs were allegedly circulated in WhatsApp groups created by some postgraduate students. Some students also claimed that answers to the questions were being shared from certain phone numbers while the examination was underway.

Also read- CBI files 20,000 page chargesheet against 13 accused in NEET 2026 paper leak

The incident comes after protests in New Delhi and other parts of the country following the NEET paper leak.

The latest alleged paper leak came to light when a student of a private medical college in Bhubaneswar, who allegedly possessed the photographs of the question paper, flagged the issue and disclosed that he had received it from a WhatsApp group formed by a student of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

After learning about the incident in the evening of July 27, Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS) vice-chancellor Manas Ranjan Sahoo held a virtual meeting with the principals of the medical colleges where the PG medical exams were held. He suggested tightening security for the next exams.

Addressing the incident, MKCG Medical College and Hospital dean/principal Harekrushna Dalai said, "A virtual meeting was held following receipt of complaints regarding the paper leak. Whatever instructions were given by the Vice-Chancellor regarding the conduct of the remaining two examinations, it will be followed thoroughly."

Responding to the allegations, Professor Dalai said, as quoted by Odisha TV, "We would not say that it is a case of exam paper 'leak'; rather, it was sent outside. 'Leak' is a different term; it is used when the question paper reaches students before the examination, but in this case, it was sent around after the distribution. We suspect that a gadget or an app was used to circulate it. We regularly frisk and conduct security checks; however, if any student might have sneaked a phone, then probably that is how the paper would have gotten out. We will take steps to avoid any such incident in the future."

He further said, "As of now, we do not know about a student group that was involved. However, as per the complaint, if the paper was circulated at 09:58 am, then it was after the question paper was distributed in the examination hall. If any student is found associated with this, then actions will be taken."

An internal investigation is underway to find out what device was used and how it came out. The theory papers for the medical PG exams for the 2023-26 batch started from July 21. Two more exams are scheduled on August 1 and 5. A total of 154 students are appearing for the exam at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

This is not the first alleged paper leak incident to surface following the NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy. Medical Dialogues recently reported an alleged examination paper leak involving the third-year BAMS examination conducted by Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. The third-year Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) surgery examination was scheduled to be held on July 20. However, a day before the examination, 11 out of the 12 questions were allegedly circulated on social media as "important questions."

Also read- BAMS exam paper leak alleged at Gujarat Ayurved University, probe ordered