Nagpur student shocked as NTA allots Abu Dhabi exam centre for NEET UG re-test

The incident has drawn attention just days before the re-examination scheduled for June 21.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) later acknowledged the issue and attributed it to a technical glitch, assuring the student that corrective action would be taken.

Admit card shows centre in Abu Dhabi

Abdullah Mohammad Talib, a candidate from Nagpur, reportedly found the discrepancy after downloading his NEET UG 2026 re-exam admit card from the official NTA website.

Instead of being allotted a centre within India, the document indicated that he was scheduled to appear for the examination at a school in Abu Dhabi.

The NEET aspirant's admit card with an Abu Dhabi exam centre. Photo: IBNS arrangements

According to reports, Abdullah had submitted his application from Nagpur and expected an examination centre in one of his preferred cities.

The situation became more complicated because he does not possess a passport, making international travel impossible.

A screenshot of the admit card later circulated on social media, bringing the matter into the public spotlight.

Family in shock

The student's family said they were surprised by the unexpected centre allocation.

According to them, Abdullah had selected Nagpur, Wardha and Bhandara as his preferred examination cities while completing the application process.

Speaking to the media, his father, Dr Mohammad Talib, said, "We are shocked. My son started crying after seeing the admit card."

He added that Abdullah does not have a passport and therefore could not travel abroad to take the examination.

NTA responds to complaint

After the issue was brought to the attention of NTA officials, the agency reportedly reviewed the matter and identified it as a technical error.

Responding to concerns raised on the social media platform X, the NTA stated that the candidate's grievance was being addressed.

The agency said that, following verification, an examination centre in Nagpur would be allotted to the student within a few hours and that a corrected admit card would be issued.

Candidates advised to check admit cards carefully

The incident has prompted renewed attention to the importance of verifying details mentioned on examination documents.

Candidates have been advised to immediately report any discrepancies related to personal information, examination centres or other important details to the concerned authorities to avoid last-minute complications.

NEET UG re-exam scheduled for June 21

The NEET UG 2026 re-examination is scheduled to take place on June 21 in pen-and-paper mode.

According to the examination schedule, the test will be conducted from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm.

Candidates appearing for the examination must carry their admit cards along with all required documents to their allotted centres.