NEET PG 2026 Power Failure in Jaipur: NBEMS Announces Re-Exam on September 5
The highly anticipated NEET PG 2026 examination, conducted on Sunday, August 30, 2026, faced a severe disruption at a major test center in Jaipur, Rajasthan. While the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) successfully completed the computer-based test for the vast majority of candidates across the country, a massive technical failure in Jaipur has sparked outrage and protests among medical aspirants. The incident has raised fresh questions regarding the infrastructural readiness of agencies responsible for conducting high-stakes national medical examinations.
Massive Scale vs. Localized Failure
According to the official notice released by the NBEMS today, the NEET PG 2026 exam saw a massive turnout nationwide.
The examination was organized for 2,73,096 registered candidates.
Out of the total registered, 2,65,980 candidates actively appeared across 1,111 designated centers.
The board reported that the test was successfully completed for 2,63,535 candidates.
However, the examination could not be completed at two specific test centers located within the iON Digital Zone iDZ in the Sitapura area of Jaipur (TC Nos. 41682 and 41683). The NBEMS has officially attributed this disruption to an internal power failure at the center, pointing directly to M/s TCS Ltd., the designated exam conducting agency.
“System Crashed 20 Times”: Candidates Erupt in Protest
The power failure did not just delay the exam; it created an environment of chaos and immense anxiety inside the center. Candidates who had spent months preparing for the postgraduate medical entrance exam were left waiting in frustration as the computer systems repeatedly failed to handle the load.
The disruption led to immediate protests by the affected candidates. Vishnu Sharma, a candidate at the Sitapura center, described the harrowing experience, stating that the systems began shutting down even before the exam could officially begin.
“It would run for two minutes and then crash. This has happened at least 20 times,” Sharma told reporters. He noted that candidates initially tried to cooperate in hopes that the systems would stabilize, but the repeated crashes made it impossible to proceed. Comparing the chaotic environment to a “seventh- or eighth-grade exam,” he highlighted how students were openly chatting with each other while waiting for the systems to reboot.
Demands for Nationwide Cancellation
The sheer magnitude of the technical failure has led to demands far beyond just a center-specific re-test. Expressing deep frustration over the lack of proper facilities despite high examination fees, candidates demanded sweeping accountability.
“We are doctors who treat others… yet when we face a situation like this, no one takes responsibility,” Sharma stated. He demanded that the exam be cancelled and reconducted across the entire country, not just at their specific center.
Official Response and Re-Examination on September 5
In response to the severe technical breakdown, the NBEMS issued a formal notice expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to the candidates. To rectify the situation, the board announced that a re-examination will be conducted exclusively for the affected candidates of the Sitapura centers.
The fresh examination is officially scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
The test will take place in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The NBEMS confirmed that further details, including the specific venue and revised admit cards, will be issued separately to these candidates.
Local authorities were also forced to intervene to manage the growing unrest. ADM Narendra Verma addressed the media, confirming that local officials, flying squads, and power supply inspection teams held urgent discussions with the TCS technical team to assess the failure. Verma acknowledged the repeated system failures that made it impossible for the exam to proceed, assuring candidates that the re-examination on September 5 would be properly managed to prevent further injustice. Furthermore, the NBEMS has reportedly called an urgent meeting to determine what disciplinary actions should be taken against the technology partner responsible for the infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
The technological collapse at the Jaipur Sitapura center is a glaring embarrassment for the NBEMS and TCS. Medical aspirants dedicate years of their lives and endure immense psychological pressure to prepare for NEET PG. To walk into an examination hall only to have their computer systems crash 20 times due to a localized power failure is an unforgivable breach of trust. While the swift rescheduling to September 5 provides a logistical fix for the affected individuals, it does not repair the immense mental toll and anxiety inflicted on these young doctors. Furthermore, candidate reports describing a chaotic environment where students were openly discussing the situation due to the delay raise very serious questions about the overall sanctity and security of the exam at that specific center. If testing agencies charging premium examination fees cannot secure a basic, uninterrupted power backup for a national-level medical entrance test, the entire digital infrastructure of these high-stakes examinations needs to be thoroughly audited before the next cycle.
Here is the Official notice by NBEMS:
