Maharashtra Candidate Receives Overseas Exam Centre Despite Choosing Nagpur Preferences
A National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 candidate from Nagpur was left stunned after being allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi just one day before the re-examination, despite selecting centres within Maharashtra during the application process.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over administrative lapses in the conduct of one of India’s largest entrance examinations, which is already under intense scrutiny following the cancellation of the original test over alleged paper leak concerns.
How Did A Nagpur Student Get An Abu Dhabi Exam Centre?
The student, Abdulla Talib from Nagpur, had selected Nagpur, Wardha, and Bhandara as his preferred examination cities while applying for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination.
However, when the National Testing Agency (NTA) issued his admit card, the examination centre mentioned was located in Abu Dhabi, thousands of kilometres away from his hometown.
According to his father, Dr Mohammed Talib, the family was shocked after discovering the overseas centre allocation just before the examination.
The parents immediately approached the NTA seeking clarification and correction of the apparent error.
NTA Assures Correction
Following the complaint, the National Testing Agency reportedly assured the family that a revised examination centre would be allotted before the examination.
The incident surfaced on the same day that authorities conducted a nationwide mock drill to assess preparedness for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination.
The exercise was part of broader efforts to ensure transparency, security, and smooth conduct of the medical entrance examination after the controversy surrounding the original test.
Over 22 Lakh Students To Appear
The NEET UG 2026 re-examination is scheduled to be held on June 21 from 2 PM to 5:15 PM in pen-and-paper mode.
According to official data, the examination will be conducted across 551 cities in India and 14 international cities, covering more than 2.279 million candidates.
The re-examination was ordered after allegations of a question paper leak led to the cancellation of the original examination conducted on May 3.
The investigation into the alleged leak has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Concerns Over Student Stress
The centre allocation error has also drawn criticism from political leaders and education stakeholders.
Former Maharashtra Education Minister and Congress leader Anees Ahmed said such incidents place unnecessary stress on students who are already under immense pressure due to the examination.
He urged authorities to improve administrative processes and avoid mistakes that could affect students’ careers.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by examination authorities in managing a large-scale national examination involving millions of candidates while ensuring accuracy and fairness.
