NEET Aspirant Allotted Centre in Abu Dhabi? NTA Says City Was Chosen Through Candidate's Login

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a detailed clarification regarding the controversy surrounding a Nagpur-based medical aspirant who was reportedly allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi for Re-NEET 2026.

The issue had sparked concern after the student claimed that he had unexpectedly received an overseas examination centre despite being based in India. However, NTA has now stated that its records show the city was selected through the candidate's own registered login during the correction window.

How the Controversy Began

The matter came to light when the student and his family alleged that an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, had been allotted to him ahead of the Re-NEET 2026 examination.

With only a day left before the exam, the family expressed concern and approached NTA, seeking immediate intervention. The case quickly attracted attention on social media, raising questions about the examination city allotment process.

Following the complaint, NTA reviewed the matter and examined the candidate's online activity records.

NTA Says Records Show Candidate Changed City

In its official statement, NTA said that web activity logs indicated the examination city had been changed using the candidate's own registered account during the correction period.

According to the agency, the candidate accessed the examination portal three times. During the first login, the examination city was changed to Abu Dhabi. The candidate then previewed the updated application details twice before final submission.

NTA stated that the access pattern showed a consistent single-user login and there was no indication of unauthorised access or a technical error in the system.

The agency maintained that the records clearly reflected that the city change was made through the candidate's account during the correction window.

Correction Window Benefited Lakhs of Candidates

NTA also highlighted that it had reopened the examination city correction window to help candidates modify their preferences if required.

During this period, around 3.2 lakh candidates submitted their examination city choices. According to the agency, more than 99.5 per cent of applicants were allotted their preferred examination cities.

The agency said the correction facility was provided to ensure flexibility and convenience for students appearing in the examination.

NTA Responded to Last-Minute Request

Despite maintaining that the Abu Dhabi selection was made through the candidate's own login, NTA said it took immediate steps after receiving a request from the student's family.

The agency revealed that it received an informal request on the evening of June 19, just 48 hours before the examination, seeking a change of centre from Abu Dhabi to Nagpur.

After receiving the representation, NTA promptly initiated the process to shift the examination centre. Officials also contacted the candidate's father on the same evening and guided the family through the necessary formalities.

According to NTA, the requested centre change was subsequently processed to ensure the student could appear for the examination without difficulty.

'No Candidate Should Miss the Exam'

Reiterating its commitment to students, NTA emphasised that its primary objective is to ensure that no candidate is deprived of the opportunity to take the examination because of administrative concerns.

"The NTA's priority is that no candidate misses the examination over an administrative doubt," the agency said in its statement.

The clarification comes at a crucial time, as thousands of candidates prepare to appear for Re-NEET 2026. The agency has once again urged students and parents to rely on official communication channels for accurate information and timely updates.