Jaipur: Technical disruptions at two NEET‑PG 2026 examination centres in Sitapura, Jaipur, on Sunday led to widespread disturbance, demonstrations by candidates and their parents, and an eventual decision by the exam authority to reschedule affected sittings.
What happened at the centres
The problems occurred at the twin iON Digital Zone, Sitapura centres, identified as test‑centre numbers 41682 and 41683. Candidates said the computer‑based test, which was scheduled to begin at 9 am, was delayed and then repeatedly interrupted as machines shut down. Several aspirants alleged that systems went down multiple times after the exam commenced, and that some machines displayed only a few questions before failing again.
The disturbances triggered protests outside the centres, with candidates and parents questioning the technical arrangements and demanding an official inquiry into the failures. Many raised concerns about the effect of the interruptions on fairness and confidentiality.
"Aspirants pay a substantial fee for an important examination like NEET‑PG but were not provided adequate technical infrastructure for an uninterrupted test," a candidate, Gunjan, said.
Administration response and rescheduling
District administration officials held discussions with the examination contractor's technical team after the disruption. According to reports, the local administration examined the manner and cause of the system failures, and engaged with the contractor to ascertain why the infrastructure could not cope with the load.
Following the incident, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) decided to reschedule the affected examinations at the disrupted centres. Candidates lodged formal objections at the centres seeking an official record of the interruption and requesting remedial action.
Prior directives and expectations
Before the NEET‑PG computer‑based examination began in Jaipur district, the local administration had issued directions to ensure adequate facilities across centres, including proper servers, network connectivity and computer systems. Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited and the relevant electrical inspector had reportedly been instructed to guarantee uninterrupted power supply and sound electrical infrastructure.
Despite those measures, the Sitapura centres experienced failures that candidates and parents said should not have occurred at a high‑stakes national examination. Several test‑takers demanded that the disruptions be officially recorded and that appropriate action be taken against lapses, if any.
Concerns raised by candidates
- Repeated shutdowns of exam machines, with some candidates reporting six to seven interruptions.
- Delayed start of the examination at the centre and unclear communication from centre staff.
- Allegations that questions had appeared on some screens before systems went down, prompting worries about confidentiality and fairness.
Candidates emphasised that many of them had prepared for one to two years for the postgraduate medical entrance test and said such disruptions could have a bearing on their future prospects. They demanded a transparent, impartial inquiry and remedies to ensure no candidate is disadvantaged.
Data snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Affected centres | iON Digital Zone, Sitapura (TC 41682 & 41683) |
| Scheduled district centres | 15 centres in Jaipur district (for NEET‑PG session) |
| Action taken | NBEMS rescheduled test at affected centres; formal objections lodged by candidates |
The episode follows a period of heightened scrutiny for national medical examinations, after separate incidents earlier raised concerns about paper security and exam conduct. Local administrators and the examination contractor will now be expected to present technical findings and a corrective plan before future sessions.
As investigations proceed, aspirants affected by the Jaipur disruption will await official notification on the revised dates and any compensatory arrangements. The failure has renewed calls for robust contingency planning — particularly reliable power backup and tested server capacity — at all computer‑based exam venues across the state.
The incident has stirred fresh debate in Rajasthan about logistical preparedness for high‑stakes examinations conducted under tight timelines and centralised delivery systems.
