Jagran Correspondent, Odisha: As the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination amid heightened scrutiny following the paper leak controversy, fresh cases of examination centre allocation errors have raised concerns about the agency's administrative processes.
Sanjana Sanjibani, a candidate from Odisha, was allotted an examination centre in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, which is nearly 1,500 kilometres away from her home state despite selecting Bhubaneswar as her preferred exam city during the application process.
The issue came to light when Sanjana downloaded her admit card just a day before the re-examination scheduled for June 21 (today). The unexpected centre allocation created panic for the candidate and her family, who feared that travelling such a long distance at short notice would make it impossible for her to appear for the examination.
( Old Admit Card )
Her father, Sanjay Biswal, a retired serviceman, immediately approached the authorities and sought intervention. He argued that sending a student across the country a day before a crucial examination was neither practical nor reasonable and could negatively affect her preparation and performance.
( Revised Admit Card )
Following the complaint, the NTA reviewed the matter and issued a revised admit card, shifting the examination centre from Dehradun to Bhubaneswar. The correction enabled the candidate to appear for the re-examination as scheduled.
Nagpur Candidate Gets Abu Dhabi As Re-Test Centre
A similar case emerged from Nagpur, where candidate Abdullah Mohammed Talib was startled to discover that his examination centre had been allotted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The error left the student and his family distressed, particularly because they did not possess passports and had no means of travelling abroad on such short notice.
According to the family, Abdullah had selected Nagpur as his first preference while filling out the application form, with Wardha and Bhandara listed as alternate choices. The allocation of an overseas examination centre therefore came as a complete surprise.
The family immediately contacted the NTA helpline, seeking urgent clarification and correction. After examining the matter, the agency reportedly acknowledged that the incorrect allocation resulted from a technical glitch. A fresh admit card carrying the revised examination centre was subsequently issued on the same day.
The back-to-back incidents come at a time when students and parents across the country are already expressing concerns over examination irregularities, paper leak allegations, and the need for a re-examination. The recent glitches in admit card and centre allocation have further intensified scrutiny of the examination process and the agency's preparedness.
The NEET-UG 2026 re-examination is being held today in offline mode at centres across the country under enhanced security arrangements. The NTA has issued detailed guidelines regarding biometric verification, reporting procedures, dress code requirements and other measures aimed at ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.