At a time when nationwide outrage has erupted over NEET UG 2026 paper leak, the BJP government in Odisha has ordered a probe following allegations that the question paper for the Medical Postgraduate (PG) General Surgery MD/MS examinations was circulated on a WhatsApp group on Thursday, while the test was in progress, officials reported on Friday.

The alleged incident is linked to the Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS) and has raised concerns over the security and integrity of professional examinations.

Responding to the alleged incident, the authorities have mounted an official probe and have heightened security measures for the remaining Medical PG examinations, including a complete ban on cell phones and electronic devices inside examination centres.

Question paper, answer allegedly shared during test

Sources privy to the incident said that the controversy surfaced after a complaint alleged that the General Surgery MD/MS question paper for the 2023-2026 batch was shared in a WhatsApp group while candidates were taking the examination.

The complaint also claimed that answers to the paper were also circulated through several WhatsApp numbers during the examination, fuelling concerns over the fairness and credibility of the evaluation process.

After the allegations came to the fore, senior academic officials convened an emergency virtual meeting to assess the situation and review the conduct of the exam. During the meeting, the officials landed on the decision to conduct the remaining exam under enhanced security arrangements, so that any recurrence of such incidents could be kept at bay.

Authorities refrain from calling incident a ‘paper leak’

Professor Harekrushna Dalai, chairman of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur confirmed the development and said all directives issued by the university’s vice-chancellor regarding the conduct of the remaining exams would be implemented without exception.

However, he cautioned against terming the episode a ‘paper leak’ at this juncture. He opined that an exam paper is considered leaked only if it reaches candidates before the examination begins.

As per preliminary findings, the question paper was allegedly transmitted outside the examination hall at around 9:58 am; after it had already been distributed to candidates and the exam had begun. On the basis of the said information, investigators are treating the case as an alleged unauthorised transmission of the question paper during the exam rather than a confirmed pre-examination paper leak.

Digital trail under scanner

Officials handling the case suspect that despite routine frisking and security checks, a person may have managed to carry a mobile phone or another electronic communication device into the examination hall and may have used it to photograph or transmit the question paper.

The probe is now widening to identify that WhatsApp group through which the paper had allegedly been circulated. Authorities are persevering in efforts to trace the group’s administrator, creator and members while examining the cell phone numbers used to share both the question paper and the answers.

Moreover, the officials are also scrutinising digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages, timestamps and cell phone records, to determine the extent of the circulation and whether an organised network was involved in the malpractice.

Strict action to follow if violations confirmed

Professor Dalai said that at present, there is no evidence suggesting the involvement of any student organisation or organised racket. He emphasised that no conclusions would be drawn until the investigation ends.

However, he warned that if any student, staff member or any other person is found to have violated examination rules or played a role in transmitting the question paper, they shall be subjected to strict disciplinary as well as legal action.