NEET Shocker: Nagpur Student Suddenly Assigned Abu Dhabi Exam Centre Days Before Re-Test, What Happened Next?

In a startling turn of events that has raised fresh questions over India’s examination system, a NEET-UG aspirant from Nagpur was unexpectedly allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, just days before the crucial re-test scheduled on June 21. The incident, which triggered panic within the family, has once again put the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) under scrutiny.

The student, who had originally selected Nagpur as his first preference while filling out the application form, was shocked to discover that his revised admit card listed the Abu Dhabi Indian School in the UAE as his test centre. This came despite the fact that his earlier admit card for the May 3 exam had clearly assigned him a centre at Saraswati Vidyalaya in Nagpur.

The May examination itself had been cancelled following allegations of irregularities and paper leaks, forcing authorities to schedule a re-test. However, what followed next for this aspirant was nothing short of distressing.

Speaking to media, the student’s father, Mohammad Talib, expressed helplessness over the situation. “We are completely unable to send our child abroad for the exam. He does not even have a passport, and there is no time left to make travel arrangements,” he said, highlighting the logistical impossibility of complying with such an assignment.

The family had reportedly listed Nagpur, followed by Wardha and Bhandara, as their preferred exam cities—making the overseas allocation even more puzzling.

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After noticing the discrepancy, the family immediately reached out to the NTA helpline. Responding to the complaint, the agency acknowledged the issue and assured corrective action. Later, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh confirmed that the student had been reassigned a centre in Nagpur after verification.

The controversy soon caught political attention, with senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sharply criticizing the examination authority. Taking to social media platform X, he remarked, “A system that can’t provide a center in a child’s own city but can send them abroad instead—it has no right to conduct exams.”

He further questioned the lapse, adding, “How did this even happen? Yesterday, no student should have had any complaint about not being able to reach their center.”

In a broader critique of the education system, Gandhi reiterated concerns he had earlier raised, stating that the situation reflects deeper systemic flaws. “This is no longer an education system. This is nothing but extortion of an entire generation’s money, time, and mental peace,” he said.

While the NTA has resolved this specific case, the incident has reignited concerns among students and parents about transparency, reliability, and accountability in national-level examinations. With lakhs of aspirants depending on such tests for their future, even minor lapses can lead to massive stress and uncertainty.

As the re-exam approaches, authorities now face the critical task of restoring trust and ensuring that such errors do not recur.