Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took aim at the Central Government and the country’s examination system after a NEET-UG 2026 re-exam candidate from Nagpur was unexpectedly assigned an exam centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Gandhi said the student faced severe anxiety after discovering the international exam location on his admit card. He claimed the candidate did not have a passport, lacked the financial means to travel abroad, and was left distressed just before the examination.

“A student from Nagpur had been preparing for the NEET re-exam for a month. When he downloaded his admit card, he found his centre was in Abu Dhabi. With no passport, no money for international travel, and no time left, he broke down and refused to appear for the exam. Imagine the pressure he went through,” Gandhi said. Questioning the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), Gandhi said students should not face difficulties reaching their allotted centres. He alleged that the agency was adding stress for candidates and their families instead of ensuring a smooth examination process.

He further criticised the system, saying that an organisation unable to provide exam centres within a student’s own city but assigning overseas centres should not be responsible for conducting major examinations. Gandhi accused the current education framework of putting unnecessary financial and emotional pressure on students, calling it a burden on an entire generation’s time, money, and mental well-being.

“Stop gambling with the future of our children. They deserve an education system and exam authority that are sensitive, responsible, and accountable,” he said. The issue arose after the Nagpur-based NEET aspirant, who had selected Nagpur as his preferred test city, received an admit card mentioning Abu Dhabi Indian School as his exam centre. The confusion came shortly before the June 21 medical entrance test, creating uncertainty for the student and his family.

Later, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh confirmed that the matter had been resolved. He said the candidate’s centre was corrected and he was allotted a new examination centre in Nagpur. The student had earlier appeared for the original NEET exam at Saraswati Vidyalaya in Nagpur. Following the re-examination process after the paper leak controversy, the updated admit card showed the unexpected UAE centre, which was later rectified by the NTA.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.