The Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati Medical College (MKCG), one of Odisha’s premier government medical institutions, has launched a probe into the alleged circulation of photographs of a postgraduate medical examination question paper on WhatsApp. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress on Friday (July 31, 2026) expressed serious concern over the reported leak and demanded stringent action against those responsible.

A six-member committee, headed by the college principal, has been constituted to investigate the “alleged incident of malpractice” and has been asked to submit its report within three days.

The controversy surfaced soon after the general surgery theory examination for the 2023–26 MS/MD batch began on July 27. Photographs of the question paper reportedly surfaced on social media while the examination was still in progress. The examination was conducted by the Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS). The circulation of the question paper during the examination triggered widespread outrage after authorities were alerted.

‘23 incidents of paper leaks’

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Friday (July 31), BJD MLA Arun Sahoo and senior leader Pratap Jena said that while the NEET question paper leak controversy was still fresh in public memory, another such incident had emerged in Odisha. They alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had failed to conduct examinations smoothly in the State. “In the past 24 months of BJP rule, 23 incidents of question paper leaks have come to light,” the BJD leaders claimed.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at the BJP government in a post on X. He wrote, “Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to work on his reel-making skills and the Modi government passes its eyewash legislation on fast-track special courts through Parliament, news emerges of yet another paper leak—this time from Odisha, the home State of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Odisha University of Health Sciences’ PG examination paper was found circulating on WhatsApp even while the examination was in process on July 27.”

Mr. Ramesh added that the Congress has consistently maintained — both in 2024 and now in 2026 — that merely prescribing stricter punishments for paper leaks or designating courts as ‘fast-track’ is not enough.

“We need a larger and more honest conversation on the commercialisation and corruption in our education system. That was the spirit of the student movement, one which the Modi government must honour,” he said.