Special OTET-2025 cancelled hours before exam; over 75,000 aspirants left fuming amid paper leak allegations

The Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET)-2025, scheduled to be held today for in-service primary school teachers across the state, was cancelled unexpectedly and postponed indefinitely following a notification late last night.

The abrupt cancellation has now left over 75,000 candidates in shock and dismay. Notably, the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, issued a notice announcing the cancellation, but did not cite any reason in the official communication.

"The scheduled Special OTET-2025 (Paper-l and Paper-ll), which has been scheduled to be held on 20.07.2025, is hereby postponed until further notification,” said a notice issued by the BSE and pasted in front of the examination centres.

The abrupt decision has triggered widespread speculation and frustration, particularly on social media platforms, where screenshots of what are alleged to be the exam’s Paper I and Paper II had begun circulating since Saturday evening.

Several candidates claimed that the leaked images matched typical OTET formats and were being shared across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

Rumours of Paper Leak Spark Outrage

While the BSE has not confirmed any breach, examinees and teacher groups believe that concerns over a possible paper leak may have prompted the sudden cancellation.

“Handwritten question papers in both Odia and English, along with answer keys, were being forwarded in multiple groups. It is still being circulated,” alleged a candidate from Khordha.

However, no official statement from the board has acknowledged these allegations. The late-night notice simply stated that both papers of the Special OTET stand cancelled and a fresh date will be announced later.

75,000+ Aspirants Affected

A total of 75,403 in-service primary teachers had applied for the Special OTET, which was scheduled to be held across 193 centres in 30 districts of the state. Many candidates had already travelled to their respective centres, only to be informed late at night about the cancellation.

The decision has triggered disappointment and outrage among aspirants. “We spent time and resources to prepare and reach the centres. This sudden cancellation has demoralised many of us,” said an examinee from Cuttack.

“This is a very vital examination. I have spent many sleepless nights preparing for it. The BSE cannot simply put up a notice a few hours before the exam and expect candidates to cope. If the paper leak allegations are true, then it is a further embarrassment for the board,” said another candidate.

Sources reported that many candidates had already travelled to exam centres, booked accommodation, and completed pre-exam formalities when the news broke around midnight, leaving them furious.

As of Sunday morning, the BSE has not clarified the cause of the cancellation nor addressed the circulating screenshots. A senior board official, when contacted, declined to comment on the viral images, stating that a formal investigation, if any, would follow protocol.