NEET PG re-exam: Power cut hits two Jaipur centres, retest on September 5; panel formed

A fresh exam will be held on September 5 for candidates affected due to power cut issues during the NEET-PG 2026 exam held at two iON Digital Zone iDZ centres in Jaipur’s Sitapura area, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) said on Sunday.

As per NBEMS, the examination could not be completed at test centres numbers 41,682 and 41,683 in Jaipur “due to internal power failure issues at the centre, attributed to M/s TCS Ltd., the exam conducting agency.”

The Board said the re-test would be held on September 5 at 3pm in Jaipur. Other details regarding the re-exam centre will be released separately, it said, adding that revised admit cards will also be issued. It said, “NBEMS apologises to the affected candidates for the inconvenience caused.”

According to sources, the NBEMS has constituted a three-member committee to look into the power supply issue, the reasons for disruption, and the circumstances leading to it. The committee will include a senior official from Rajasthan government, a joint secretary from the Union health ministry, and a senior engineering official from the Central Electricity Authority. The committee will submit its report within the stipulated time-frame, sources said.

Dr Abhijat Sheth, NBEMS president, said, “There was no paper leak, cybercrime, or hacking. There were no complaints received. There was one problem, however. Around 2,445 candidates in Jaipur’s Sitapura centres could not complete their examination due to internal power failure. And, we had to postpone the examination to preserve its sanctity.”

He said, “We will conduct the test in the same manner and keep in mind that the scores are not affected.”

According to Union Health Ministry officials NBEMS has also expressed regret for inconvenience caused to the affected candidates and said the re-examination is being conducted to ensure that they receive a fair and equitable opportunity.

Dr Gaurav, who wrote the exam, said, “In two hours, the exam began 10 times and ended 10 times.” While several other candidates alleged lack of proper electricity supply at the centre which hampered the exam, some demanded its cancellation across the country.

Vishnu Sharma, another candidate, said, “The system shut down repeatedly right from the beginning, even before the exam could properly start. It would work for barely two minutes before crashing. This happened at least 20 times.”

He said, “We kept cooperating, hoping it would work the next time, but the system continued to shut down. When candidates are charged such a substantial fee, is it too much to expect proper facilities for an exam of this scale?”

In a post on X, Congress said, “The NEET-PG exam scheduled for 9 am in Jaipur could not even start until noon. Students and their families continued to suffer due to (PM Narendra) Modi's pathetic system, while the entire government slept soundly under the covers. Once again, it has been proven that the Modi government cannot conduct even a single exam properly. Shame on them.”

As per NBEMS, NEET-PG 2026 exam was conducted on August 30 at 1,111 centres across 339 cities for 2,73,096 registered candidates. Of them, 2,65,980 candidates appeared for the exam and 2,63,535 completed it.

Hamza Khan is a seasoned Correspondent for The Indian Express, specifically reporting from the diverse and politically dynamic state of Rajasthan. Based in Jaipur, he provides high-authority coverage on the state's governance, legal landscape, and social issues, directly supporting the "Journalism of Courage" ethos of the publication. Expertise Politics & Governance: Comprehensive tracking of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, including policy changes (e.g., the Right to Health Bill and Anti-Mob Lynching Bills), bypoll dynamics, and the shifting power structures between the BJP and Congress. ... Read More