'Fabrications aimed at making bad performance': NTA warns of criminal action on AI, fake OMRs

‘Fabrications Aimed At Masking Bad Performance’NEW DELHI: Acting swiftly on a wave of post-result complaints, National Testing Agency (NTA) has warned of strict action against fake claims after finding that several optical mark recognition (OMR) sheets submitted in support of NEET-UG result grievances were fake or AI-generated - the first time the agency detecting AI-made OMRs being used to challenge results.The complaints relate to the June 21 NEET-UG retest, held after the May test was cancelled over paper leak. NTA on Sunday warned that candidates submitting digitally-altered OMRs or scorecards could face cancellation of results, debarment from NTA-led exams and even criminal proceedings. Some candidates and parents - few even joining Cockroach Janta Party's Jantar Mantar protest - have alleged mismatches between expected and declared scores. The allegations, spreading rapidly on social media, are also being quickly picked up by opposition parties to attack NTA, which has already faced flak over the paper leak.Faced with the challenge - which marks a technological twist to earlier disputes that involved forged documents, purportedly torn or damaged answer sheets, and allegedly fabricated scorecards - NTA warned candidates submitting digitally altered OMRs or scorecards could face action.Officials said the fabrications appeared aimed at masking "not-so-good performances" - even though the effort cannot fetch a seat in a medical college, as admissions are made by the Medical Counselling Committee under Directorate General of Health Services and the respective state counselling authorities, on the basis of the merit list issued by NTA."NTA is closely monitoring and scrutinising all complaints. In the wake of many OMR sheets submitted for scrutiny turning out to be fake/AI generated, students and parents are advised to submit only original OMRs for scrutiny. Any fake/AI generated OMR may invite legal action against the complainant," the agency said Saturday. Sources in the agency were furious over fabrications saying that they might taint those who have succeeded because of sheer merit.Officials said complaints verified so far had not established any discrepancy in declared results. "If any discrepancy is found during the ongoing verification, corrective measures will be taken. The total number and nature of such cases will be shared once the exercise is completed and all grievances have been addressed," an official said. The disclosure will cover the number and nature of complaints examined, the cases in which documents were fabricated and whether any declared result required correction, they said.