Maharashtra HSC Exam 2026: No re-exam for Chemistry, MSBSHSE clarifies; 2 held for paper circulation

Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has clarified that no re-exam will be held for the Maharashtra HSC Chemistry 2026 paper. The Nagar police have arrested two persons in connection with the alleged circulation of the Maharashtra HSC Chemistry paper 2026.

According to several media reports, Nagpur police said that one of the accused runs a small tuition class, while the other belongs to the WhatsApp group that was used to circulate the question paper.

The incident came to light at a Maharashtra board HSC exam centre after a female student's frequent visits to the washroom raised suspicion. Upon frisking, invigilators seized the student’s mobile phone, which is not allowed to be carried in the exam hall.

MSBSHSE began the Maharashtra Class 12 board exams 2026 for more than 15 lakh students on February 10 and will continue till March 11.

Also read Maharashtra Board Exam 2026: How SSC, HSC marks are calculated, graded

Maharashtra HSC Chemistry 2026: Suspected paper-leak

Officials said that the question paper had been circulated in a WhatsApp group before the start of the exam, and that potential answers were also shared within the same group.

According to officials, the student accessed the message during the initial checking process but did not open it. Authorities added that she did not gain any benefit because she could not use her phone inside the exam hall.

They later questioned another student who belonged to the same WhatsApp group, and her phone, which they found in her bag, confirmed that she was a member of the group. Police then took over the investigation.

Also read Maharashtra HSC board exam 2026 begins with mass cheating; 23 face FIR, invigilators suspended

Mah HSC chemistry 2026 paper circulated on WhatsApp

On checking the device, authorities found that the WhatsApp group received an image of the Chemistry question paper between 10:37 am and 10:40 am, just minutes before the exam started. Authorities also discovered that members had shared the physics paper conducted on February 16 in the same group around 10:30 am.

Reportedly, about 12 students were part of the group.

Notably, the chairperson of the MSBSHSE said that FIR has been registered in connection with the incident, and the police investigation has begun. Based on the findings of the probe, action will be taken against the responsible person.

For now, the student has been permitted to appear for the remaining exam, and a decision on disciplinary action against her is yet to be taken, as per The Indian Express report.

Recently, five teachers were caught allegedly facilitating large-scale copying during the first day of the Maharashtra Board Class 12 HSC exam 2026. The board authorities deployed drone-mounted surveillance cameras that captured supervisors in 16 examination halls, not only failing to stop cheating but also allegedly helping students copy openly.