Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur
Nagpur, Jun 20: A NEET aspirant from Nagpur has been left in uncertainty after being allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, despite selecting Nagpur as his preferred test city for the medical entrance examination scheduled on June 21.
The student had earlier been assigned a centre at Saraswati Vidyalaya in Nagpur for the original NEET examination. However, after the exam was rescheduled following the paper leak controversy, he downloaded his revised admit card and was shocked to find that his examination centre had been shifted to Abu Dhabi Indian School in the UAE.
According to the student’s family, he had selected Nagpur as his first preference while filling the application form, followed by Wardha and Bhandara.
The family said they were unable to understand how an overseas centre was allotted to the student, who does not even have a passport.
“We are completely unable to send our child abroad for the exam. He does not even have a passport, and there is no time left to make travel arrangements,” said the student’s father Mohammad Talib.
The family approached the National Testing Agency (NTA) helpline and lodged a complaint. The agency reportedly acknowledged the issue and assured that a revised admit card would be issued after verification.
Former Maharashtra Education Minister Dr Anees Ahmed criticised the incident, calling it a serious lapse by the examination authority. He urged the NTA to immediately correct the error and allot a centre in Nagpur or a nearby city.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the functioning of the NTA amid continued scrutiny over examination management issues.
Meanwhile, the NTA has announced extensive security and logistical arrangements for the smooth conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.
The agency said confidential examination materials are being transported under strict security measures using GPS-enabled vehicles accompanied by police personnel. Examination centres have also been equipped with CCTV surveillance, Aadhaar-based biometric authentication and real-time monitoring systems.
More than two lakh personnel, including city coordinators, observers, centre superintendents, invigilators, district officials and police personnel, have been deployed for the examination.
The NTA has advised candidates to reach their centres between 11 am and 1.30 pm, with entry gates closing at 1.30 pm.
The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination will be held in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 5.15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.