A Nagpur-based candidate for the undergraduate National Eligibility cum Entrance Test re-examination on Sunday was initially allotted a test centre in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, ANI reported on Saturday.

Following a complaint by the candidate’s family, the National Testing Agency, which conducts the examination, said that the “grievance is being addressed and the candidate will be allotted a centre in Nagpur in the next few hours”.

Later, the agency said that its records showed the examination city had been changed to Abu Dhabi through the candidate’s registered login during the correction window that was opened after the test was rescheduled.

The National Testing Agency said it had also found two instances in which the allotment to Abu Dhabi was “previewed” through the same account.

Nevertheless, the agency said it acted on a request received on Friday evening to shift the examination centre to Nagpur and contacted the candidate’s father to complete the formalities.

“The NTA’s priority is that no candidate misses the examination over an administrative doubt,” the statement added.

Earlier the testing agency had described the incident as a “lapse” caused by a technical glitch, The Hindu reported.

Mohammad Talib, the father of the candidate, Abdullah Mohammad Talib, told ANI that his son downloaded the admit card at 4 pm on Thursday and found that his examination centre had been assigned to a school in Abu Dhabi.

“We were really shocked as we had not given anything as such in our options,” the father was quoted as saying. “We dialled up the helpline number. They told us to send them a mail. When we sent a mail, we received a call that we will be issued a fresh admit card by 4pm on Saturday.”

Mohammad Talib added: “He cried a lot yesterday and did not even want to write the exam…His mother tried to convince him. If he is convinced, he will appear for the exam.”

Reacting to the Nagpur student’s case, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that the National Testing Agency was “testing the patience of the country’s children and their parents”.

“Stop gambling with our children’s future,” Gandhi said. “They deserve a sensitive, responsible and accountable education system and exam authority – and we will ensure they get it.”

NEET controversy

The incident came amid controversy surrounding the NEET-UG examination.

The NEET-UG exam was conducted on May 3, and more than 22 lakh candidates had appeared for it. However, the exam was cancelled after the Rajasthan Special Operations Group began investigating allegations that a “guess paper” circulated before the examination contained questions closely matching the actual paper.

The “guess paper” contained around 410 questions, of which about 120 matched the questions asked in the chemistry section, according to the Rajasthan Police.

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a first information report in the matter based on a complaint by the Union education ministry. It has invoked charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal breach of trust, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the 2024 Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act.

The 2024 examination was also hit by allegations of paper leaks and irregular grace marks, leading to nationwide protests.

Edited by Sara Varghese.