The National Testing Agency (NTA) addressed the controversy surrounding a NEET-UG 2026 candidate from Nagpur who was assigned an exam center in Abu Dhabi. NTA clarified that the candidate had changed the city through their registered login during the correction window. Despite this, NTA accommodated the aspirant’s request and relocated the exam center.
In response to the situation, NTA reopened the examination-city correction window after rescheduling NEET (UG) 2026 to 21 June. Over 3.2 lakh candidates utilized this facility, with more than 99.5% receiving their preferred cities. The agency confirmed that the city change to Abu Dhabi was made by the candidate during the open correction window.
NTA received an informal request just 48 hours before the exam to shift the center from Abu Dhabi to Nagpur. The agency promptly assisted in the change and contacted the candidate’s father to facilitate the process. NTA’s records indicate that the exam center was altered to Abu Dhabi using the candidate’s credentials and was previewed twice thereafter.
The controversy arose when Abdullah Talib, a Nagpur resident, was assigned an exam center in Abu Dhabi for the re-NEET UG 2026 exam. Despite selecting Nagpur, Wardha, and Bhandara as preferred cities, Abdullah’s admit card displayed Abu Dhabi as the center. This error caused distress as Abdullah lacked a passport for overseas travel, sparking concerns on social media about the NEET examination process.
