NEET-PG 2026 was disrupted at two iON Digital Zone centres in Jaipur’s Sitapura on Sunday, August 30, after repeated system failures prevented 2,445 candidates from completing the computer-based examination. Candidates protested, raising concerns over fairness and unequal examination conditions.
ACP Lalit Sharma said the authorities were initially informed of a server problem, with some computers opening while others did not. NBEMS later clarified that an internal power-supply failure at the two centres, attributed to TCS Ltd., the examination-conducting agency, caused the disruption.
The board has apologised and ordered a re-examination for all affected candidates on September 5 at 3 pm in Jaipur, with revised admit cards and venue details to follow.
Repeated Failures Spark Protest
The disruption unfolded as NEET-PG 2026 was being conducted nationwide for 2,73,096 registered candidates across 1,111 centres in 339 cities. While the examination was completed for approximately 2,63,535 candidates, the two Sitapura centres became an exception after candidates reported repeated computer failures during the test.
Some aspirants said their systems shut down six or seven times, while others reported even more frequent interruptions. Candidates also alleged that the examination began late and that computers repeatedly crashed after the test started.
The disruption prompted candidates to gather outside the centre and protest, with many demanding a fair resolution. Their concerns went beyond losing examination time: candidates questioned whether those whose systems opened and displayed questions had been placed at an advantage over those whose computers remained inaccessible.
One candidate, Vishnu Sharma, alleged that his computer worked for around two minutes before crashing and said this happened about 20 times. He said candidates initially continued cooperating because they hoped the systems would stabilise.
ACP Lalit Sharma said officials had initially received information that the server was not functioning properly, resulting in some candidates’ computers opening while others did not. Police and administrative officials reached the centre as the protest intensified and held discussions with candidates and the examination authorities.
NBEMS Announces Fresh Examination
The situation was subsequently clarified by NBEMS, which said the examination could not be completed at test centre numbers 41682 and 41683 because of internal power-supply issues. The board attributed the failure to TCS Ltd., the examination-conducting agency, and said it regretted the inconvenience caused to the affected candidates. Rather than requiring the disrupted candidates to rely on the compromised examination attempt, NBEMS decided that all 2,445 affected aspirants would be given another opportunity.
The re-examination will be held on Saturday, September 5, at 3 pm in Jaipur. NBEMS said the venue and further instructions would be communicated separately, while revised admit cards would be issued to the affected candidates. The decision followed the protests and concerns raised at Sitapura and provides a uniform remedy to candidates who experienced the disruption.
The incident also highlights the importance of reliable infrastructure in high-stakes computer-based examinations. Although the NEET-PG examination was completed successfully for the overwhelming majority of candidates nationwide, the Sitapura disruption meant that thousands of aspirants faced an examination environment markedly different from what had been intended.
The contrasting early description of a server failure and the later official explanation of an internal power-supply failure also underlines the need for clear and timely communication during examination emergencies.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
For medical aspirants, an entrance examination is not simply another test; it represents months of preparation, financial investment, personal sacrifice and hopes of securing a place in postgraduate medical education. When a technical failure interrupts that process, frustration and anxiety are understandable. The decision to offer all 2,445 affected candidates a fresh examination is therefore an important step towards restoring fairness, but accountability and preparedness must remain equally important.
Examination agencies should ensure that power, technology and contingency systems are tested rigorously before high-stakes examinations begin, while candidates deserve transparent communication when something goes wrong. At the same time, constructive dialogue between aspirants, authorities and examination agencies can help prevent frustration from escalating into confrontation.
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