NEET-PG 2026: Retest Slated for September 5 After Power Failure at Two Jaipur Centres
A technical failure caused widespread disruption during the NEET-PG 2026 examination at two test venues in Jaipur on Sunday, August 30, 2026. Following protests by candidates and computer shutdowns, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced that a re-examination will be conducted on September 5, 2026, exclusively for the affected aspirants.
What Happened
During the nationwide administration of NEET-PG 2026, candidates appearing at two examination venues in Sitapura, Jaipur, faced repeated computer shutdowns. The disrupted venues were identified as iON Digital Zone iDZ Sitapura, specifically Test Centre numbers 41682 and 41683.
According to an official notice from NBEMS, the test could not be completed at these centres due to an internal power failure. The technical infrastructure and operational support were managed by the agency’s technology partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Ltd. Local administrative official ADM Narendra Verma noted that authorities held discussions with the TCS technical team regarding the load capacity failure that persisted despite multiple attempts to stabilize the systems.
Aspirants reported that computers shut down between six and seven times, while others experienced even more frequent interruptions. When systems rebooted, only a handful of questions appeared on the screens before machines went down again. Lacking clear explanations from venue staff, frustrated candidates exited the premises and held protests outside, expressing distress over exam fairness and confidentiality after partial questions were exposed on glitching monitors. Demonstrators demanded an impartial investigation into the incident.
Key Highlights
- Retest Scheduled: NBEMS will conduct a retest for the impacted candidates on September 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Jaipur.
- Centres Affected: The disruption was confined to iON Digital Zone iDZ Sitapura (TC Nos. 41682 and 41683) in Jaipur.
- Cause of Disruption: NBEMS attributed the stoppage to an internal power failure and system load management breakdown handled by TCS Ltd.
- National Exam Status: Across the rest of the country, NEET-PG 2026 was conducted without disruption, covering over 2.6 lakh candidates across 1,111 centres.
- Administrative Review: NBEMS convened an urgent meeting to determine regulatory and contractual action against the technology vendor and infrastructure agency.
Why This Matters
The disruption directly impacted medical graduates seeking postgraduate seats, creating logistical hurdles and raising integrity concerns among those whose test screens repeatedly rebooted mid-exam. Although the wider national examination proceeded smoothly for more than 2.6 lakh candidates, the isolated breakdown underscores the critical reliance on robust electrical backup and server capacity during large-scale digital entrance tests.
What to Watch Next
NBEMS stated that details regarding the specific venue for the September 5 retest along with revised admit cards will be communicated separately to the eligible candidates. Furthermore, the board is scheduled to review the findings of its inquiry to decide appropriate action against the technological partner and infrastructure vendors responsible for the Sitapura venues.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the NEET-PG 2026 re-examination take place?
The retest is scheduled for September 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Jaipur.
Who is eligible to appear in the retest?
Only the candidates who were registered and affected at the two disrupted Sitapura centres in Jaipur are permitted to sit for the re-examination.
Which centres in Jaipur encountered technical issues?
The outages occurred at iON Digital Zone iDZ Sitapura, covering centre codes TC 41682 and TC 41683.
Was the NEET-PG exam cancelled nationwide?
No. Officials confirmed that the exam was conducted successfully at all other centres across the country, where over 2.6 lakh candidates completed the test across 1,111 centres.
Source: The Hindu / ANI