Student's exam was the immediate priority: NTA chief on Abu Dhabi centre allotment

The NTA has corrected the NEET re-exam centre allotment for a Nagpur candidate who was assigned Abu Dhabi. The change restores his chance to sit the June 21 test locally after concern over the admit card error.

In Short

• The admit card had listed an overseas centre despite local residence
• The re-examination is scheduled for June 21 amid last-minute confusion
• Reports said the student had no passport for foreign travel

A day after a NEET UG 2026 candidate from Nagpur found his re-examination centre listed as Abu Dhabi, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has resolved the issue and issued a fresh allotment.

NTA FIXES THE ERROR, PROBE CONTINUES

Responding to the controversy, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh confirmed that the immediate issue had been resolved.

Speaking to India Today, Singh said the agency is now investigating how the candidate was assigned an examination centre in Abu Dhabi despite being based in Nagpur.

He explained that city intimation slips were issued on June 7, while admit cards were released on June 14. The NTA has already contacted the candidate and begun looking into the circumstances that led to the incorrect allotment.

According to Singh, one possible reason being examined is whether the candidate's account credentials may have been compromised.

"Some candidates do not adequately secure their account passwords, which can sometimes lead to such issues," he said.

The Director General added that the investigation would take time, but the Agency's first priority was ensuring that the student did not miss the re-examination.

"The immediate priority was to ensure that the student was able to appear for the examination. The enquiry into the matter will continue alongside," he said.

A GLITCH THAT RAISED CONCERNS

The incident came to light after the student's admit card showed an examination centre in Abu Dhabi despite him being a resident of Nagpur.

A Nagpur-based NEET UG candidate has allegedly been allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi for the upcoming re-exam, raising fresh concerns over exam management. The last-minute allotment had left the student, Abdullah, and his family distressed, especially with only a day remaining before the test. Notably, he had appeared at a centre in Nagpur during the previous examination.

The student did not even possess a passport, making it impossible for him to travel overseas for the examination. The case quickly gained attention on social media, with students questioning how such an error could occur in one of the country's biggest entrance examinations.

FOCUS RETURNS TO THE RE-EXAM

With the candidate now allotted a centre in Nagpur, attention has shifted back to the NEET UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. While the student will be able to take the test without disruption, the NTA has said it will continue investigating how the unusual centre allotment occurred.

The incident has also prompted the Agency to remind candidates to keep their login credentials secure and promptly report any discrepancies in their city intimation slips or admit cards.

- Ends