NEET Re-Exam Allotment Blunder: Nagpur Student Assigned Abu Dhabi Centre, Rahul Gandhi Slams NTA
With the NEET UG re-examination scheduled for June 21, a serious administrative error has sparked widespread outrage. A student from Nagpur was mistakenly assigned an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE, instead of a location within India. The blunder, which came to light just a day before the exam, has drawn sharp criticism from Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who has questioned the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) operational competence.
The error was detected when the student downloaded his admit card and discovered that his designated test venue was a school in Abu Dhabi. The news quickly spread on social media, prompting the NTA to respond with assurances of a swift correction. According to recent updates, the agency is expected to allocate a new centre within Nagpur once verification procedures are completed in the coming hours.
Rahul Gandhi’s Strong Reaction to the NTA’s Lapse
Taking to his official social media platforms, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on both the NTA and the government over the incident. He highlighted the immense psychological distress caused to the young candidate, describing the ordeal in vivid terms. He noted that a student from Nagpur had been diligently preparing for the re-examination for a month. Upon downloading the admit card just one day prior to the test, he discovered his assigned centre was in Abu Dhabi. With no passport, no financial means for international travel, and critically, no time left, the student was left in a state of despair, reportedly crying through the night and considering boycotting the examination altogether.
Gandhi posed a direct and pointed question to the NTA: “How could this have happened in the first place?” He emphasized that on the day of the exam, no candidate should face the ordeal of being unable to reach their assigned test centre. He further argued that a system incapable of allocating a centre within a student’s own city has no right to conduct such high-stakes examinations. He characterized this not as an education system, but as a systemic exploitation of an entire generation’s finances, time, and mental well-being.
NTA Responds and Initiates Corrective Action
In response to the escalating controversy, the NTA issued an official statement acknowledging the candidate’s complaint. The agency confirmed that the issue is being addressed and that a new examination centre will be allotted to the student in Nagpur itself. The statement indicated that this correction would be processed within a few hours, following the necessary verification checks.
The Full Story Behind the Allotment Error
The incident involves Abdullah Mohammed Talib, a resident of Nagpur. While filling out his application for the NEET re-examination, Abdullah had listed Nagpur, Wardha, and Bhandara as his preferred cities for the exam. However, when he downloaded his admit card from the NTA website, it displayed an Indian school in Abu Dhabi as his test centre.
According to his father, Dr. Mohammed Talib, his son was shocked and began to cry upon seeing the admit card. The prospect of travelling to Abu Dhabi was impossible, as the student did not even possess a passport. The gravity of the situation made it clear that attempting to take the exam abroad was not a viable option. The issue gained significant traction online after a screenshot of the erroneous admit card went viral, turning the administrative oversight into a major talking point.
NTA Advisory for All Re-NEET Candidates
In the wake of this incident, the NTA has issued a crucial advisory for all candidates appearing for the re-examination. The agency is urging students to meticulously review the details on their admit cards, including the examination centre, personal information, and photograph. Any discrepancies or errors should be immediately reported to the NTA helpline to ensure timely rectification. The Re-NEET 2026 examination is scheduled to be conducted on June 21, from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM.
