NEET UG re-test 2026: NTA denies centre mix-up, says candidate chose Abu Dhabi
Ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-test, a Nagpur student was reportedly allotted an exam centre in Abu Dhabi, sparking concerns. However, the NTA clarified that the candidate had selected Abu Dhabi and that it promptly acted on a later request to shift the centre to Nagpur.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the NEET UG 2026 re-examination on June 21. However, ahead of the exam, the agency has clarified that a Nagpur candidate who was allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi had himself selected the UAE city as his preferred centre.
The clarification comes after reports emerged that Abdullah, a student from Nagpur, had been assigned an examination centre in Abu Dhabi for the upcoming NEET UG re-test, triggering concerns and allegations of mismanagement. The development left the student and his family distressed, especially as the examination was only a day away. Notably, Abdullah had been allotted a centre in Nagpur during the previous examination.
According to the NTA, it received an informal request on the evening of June 19, less than 48 hours before the exam, seeking a change of centre to Nagpur. The agency said its officials immediately initiated the process and contacted the candidate's father on the same evening to facilitate the necessary formalities.
"On the 'Abu Dhabi' query: NTA's web-activity records indicate that the city change in this case was made through the candidate's own registered login during the open correction window, with a consistent single-user access pattern," said NTA in the tweet.
NTA said its records indicate that the centre was changed to Abu Dhabi using the candidate's credentials and was previewed as Abu Dhabi twice. Nevertheless, the agency acted on the aspirant's request and approved the centre change.
NTA DIRECTOR'S RESPONSE
Earlier today, 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. 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.
RAHUL GANDHI FLAGS CENTRE ROW
Government sources said that opposition leader Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over the case involving a Nagpur-based candidate being allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi just days before NEET 2026, without waiting for the facts to be fully verified.
According to sources, NTA records show that the Abu Dhabi centre option was selected through the candidate's own registered login credentials, with a consistent single-user access pattern. The agency's records further indicate that the examination city was changed to Abu Dhabi once and previewed twice using the same credentials.
Sources added that despite this, when an informal request was received on the evening of June 19, barely two days before the examination, NTA officials immediately contacted the candidate's father and began the process of shifting the examination centre to Nagpur.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the NEET UG 2026 re-examination on June 21. However, ahead of the exam, the agency has clarified that a Nagpur candidate who was allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi had himself selected the UAE city as his preferred centre.
The clarification comes after reports emerged that Abdullah, a student from Nagpur, had been assigned an examination centre in Abu Dhabi for the upcoming NEET UG re-test, triggering concerns and allegations of mismanagement. The development left the student and his family distressed, especially as the examination was only a day away. Notably, Abdullah had been allotted a centre in Nagpur during the previous examination.
According to the NTA, it received an informal request on the evening of June 19, less than 48 hours before the exam, seeking a change of centre to Nagpur. The agency said its officials immediately initiated the process and contacted the candidate's father on the same evening to facilitate the necessary formalities.
"On the 'Abu Dhabi' query: NTA's web-activity records indicate that the city change in this case was made through the candidate's own registered login during the open correction window, with a consistent single-user access pattern," said NTA in the tweet.
NTA said its records indicate that the centre was changed to Abu Dhabi using the candidate's credentials and was previewed as Abu Dhabi twice. Nevertheless, the agency acted on the aspirant's request and approved the centre change.
NTA DIRECTOR'S RESPONSE
Earlier today, 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. 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.
RAHUL GANDHI FLAGS CENTRE ROW
Government sources said that opposition leader Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over the case involving a Nagpur-based candidate being allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi just days before NEET 2026, without waiting for the facts to be fully verified.
According to sources, NTA records show that the Abu Dhabi centre option was selected through the candidate's own registered login credentials, with a consistent single-user access pattern. The agency's records further indicate that the examination city was changed to Abu Dhabi once and previewed twice using the same credentials.
Sources added that despite this, when an informal request was received on the evening of June 19, barely two days before the examination, NTA officials immediately contacted the candidate's father and began the process of shifting the examination centre to Nagpur.
