The NEET PG 2026 examination at a test centre in Jaipur’s Sitapura area was disrupted on Sunday after a technical problem affected computer systems during the highly competitive postgraduate medical entrance examination. The disruption left several candidates unable to proceed with the test as planned and led to protests outside the examination centre.
The examination was being conducted across India in a single shift, with thousands of medical graduates appearing for the test to compete for postgraduate medical seats. Candidates at the affected Jaipur centre reported difficulties with the computer-based examination, raising concerns about lost examination time and the possible impact of technical interruptions on their performance.
According to Jaipur police officials, authorities were informed that the server at the examination centre was not functioning properly. ACP Lalit Sharma said that while some candidates’ computers opened normally, others were unable to start the examination, resulting in disruption at the centre. Police and administrative officials subsequently reached the venue and spoke with candidates as tensions grew.
The technical problems reportedly continued after the examination began. Candidates at the Sitapura centres alleged that computer systems repeatedly shut down during the test. Reports from the affected centres said some candidates experienced multiple interruptions, with systems restarting before the examination could continue normally. The repeated disruptions caused frustration among aspirants who had prepared extensively for the medical entrance examination.
The disruption was particularly significant because NEET PG is a high-stakes examination in which candidates compete for postgraduate medical education opportunities. Performance in the examination can influence a candidate’s rank and, ultimately, the options available for medical specialities and institutions. As a result, candidates argued that technical failures during the examination could affect them even if they had prepared adequately for the test.
The examination was scheduled to begin at 9 am. Candidates at the affected centres reported that the problems interfered with the normal start and continuation of the computer-based test. Some aspirants said their systems stopped working repeatedly, while others faced difficulties accessing the examination interface. The situation created uncertainty inside the test centre and eventually resulted in candidates gathering outside to express their grievances.
Police and administrative officials attempted to manage the situation and communicate with the candidates. ACP Lalit Sharma said discussions were taking place with the organising agency to find a meaningful solution for those affected. At the time of the initial disruption, authorities were assessing the situation and determining how the affected candidates could be given a fair opportunity.
The incident later resulted in a decision to conduct the examination again for candidates affected by the disruption. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences announced a re-examination for candidates whose test could not be completed because of the technical problems at the Jaipur centres. The re-test is scheduled for September 5, 2026, at 3 pm in Jaipur.
According to the NBEMS announcement, the affected locations were the iON Digital Zone iDZ examination centres in Sitapura, identified by test centre numbers 41682 and 41683. The board said the examination could not be completed for 2,445 candidates because of an internal power supply issue at the test centres. The issue was attributed to TCS Ltd., the agency conducting the examination.
The decision to hold a re-examination is intended to provide affected candidates with an equitable opportunity to appear for NEET PG 2026. NBEMS expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to candidates and announced the fresh examination date following the disruption. The re-test means that candidates whose examination was affected will receive another opportunity rather than having their incomplete examination treated as their final attempt.
The disruption in Jaipur occurred even though the nationwide examination was largely completed successfully. NBEMS said NEET PG 2026 was scheduled for 2,73,096 registered candidates across 1,111 examination centres in 339 cities covering all 36 States and Union Territories. Of the registered candidates, 2,65,980 appeared for the examination, while approximately 2,63,535 candidates completed it.
The national examination was conducted with extensive security and monitoring arrangements. NBEMS said real-time monitoring mechanisms were in place, including regional command centres and surveillance systems. Faculty members were appointed as independent appraisers, while senior medical faculty were deployed as flying squad members. Examination centres were also placed under live CCTV surveillance, with monitoring carried out from the NBEMS command centre.
The Jaipur disruption has therefore brought attention to the importance of reliable technical and power infrastructure at computer-based examination centres. While security and surveillance are essential for maintaining examination integrity, uninterrupted electricity, functioning computer systems and adequate technical support are equally important for ensuring that candidates can complete a high-stakes examination under fair conditions.
For medical graduates, the disruption was not simply an inconvenience. Candidates had spent months preparing for the examination, and many had travelled to their allotted centres with the expectation of completing the test within the scheduled examination window. Repeated technical failures can create additional stress and make it difficult for candidates to maintain concentration during an examination where time management is critical.
Candidates also raised concerns about whether repeated system failures could influence their performance differently from one candidate to another. In a computer-based examination, interruptions can affect concentration, recall and the pace at which a candidate answers questions. This is particularly important in a competitive examination where small differences in scores can have consequences for ranking and postgraduate admission opportunities.
The protests at the Jaipur centre reflected the seriousness of these concerns. Candidates gathered outside the examination venue and sought answers regarding the disruption and the steps that would be taken to protect their interests. Police and administrative officials remained involved as discussions continued with the authorities responsible for conducting the examination.
The announcement of the September 5 re-examination provides a formal resolution for the candidates directly affected by the technical failure. However, the episode is also likely to renew discussion about contingency planning at examination centres. National-level entrance examinations require systems capable of handling unexpected power or technology failures without placing candidates at a disadvantage.
The Jaipur incident also comes against the backdrop of another recent examination disruption in the city. Earlier in August, a power failure affected the All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test at a Jaipur centre, resulting in a re-test being ordered for affected candidates. That earlier incident had already raised questions about the preparedness of examination centres to manage power-related disruptions during computer-based tests.
For the candidates affected by the NEET PG disruption, the immediate priority is now the re-examination. The fresh test scheduled for September 5 will give them another opportunity to complete the examination under the revised arrangements. Candidates will need to follow any instructions issued by NBEMS regarding the re-test, including details concerning the venue and examination-day procedures.
The incident has also highlighted the wider responsibility involved in conducting major competitive examinations. For candidates, an examination centre is expected to provide a stable environment where they can demonstrate their preparation without being affected by avoidable technical difficulties. When a disruption occurs, timely communication and an appropriate corrective mechanism become essential.
As the affected candidates prepare for the September 5 re-examination, attention will remain focused on the arrangements being made to prevent a repeat of the earlier disruption. The episode has demonstrated that technological reliability is a critical part of modern computer-based examinations and that contingency measures must be capable of responding quickly when unexpected failures occur.
The NEET PG 2026 examination otherwise proceeded across hundreds of centres nationwide, but the disruption in Jaipur became a major concern for the 2,445 candidates whose examinations could not be completed at the two Sitapura centres. The re-examination decision is intended to restore a fair opportunity for those candidates and ensure that their postgraduate medical aspirations are not determined by a technical failure at an examination venue.
With the re-test now scheduled for September 5, the affected aspirants have a new examination date to prepare for. The episode nevertheless underscores the importance of dependable infrastructure, rapid technical support and clear contingency protocols whenever large-scale computer-based examinations are conducted. For thousands of medical graduates, the examination represents an important step toward their postgraduate careers, making the reliability of the examination system a matter of significant consequence.
