NEET-PG 2026: Technical glitch sends wrong test city SMS, NBEMS asks candidates to verify on portal
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has issued a clarification after several NEET-PG 2026 aspirants received incorrect SMS alerts regarding their allotted examination cities. The Board acknowledged that a technical glitch led to wrong messages being sent to some candidates, causing confusion and anxiety among those preparing for the national postgraduate medical entrance examination.
Reports emerged on Wednesday, with several candidates stating that they received two different SMS messages within hours, each mentioning a different test city. In one instance, an aspirant was initially allotted Gudur in Andhra Pradesh, only to receive another message assigning Noida in Uttar Pradesh as the examination city. Such conflicting updates prompted many candidates to take to social media, seeking clarity and expressing concern about their travel and accommodation plans.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, NBEMS said that the allocation of test cities had been completed as scheduled and made available on the official applicant portal. However, due to certain technical problems, the test city conveyed to some candidates through SMS was incorrect. The Board confirmed that fresh SMSes and emails carrying the correct test city have been sent to the affected candidates.
NBEMS advised candidates not to rely on SMS messages as the sole source of information, and instead verify their allotted examination city through the official applicant portal, which contains the correct details for all candidates. The Board also urged aspirants to depend only on official communications and to be cautious of fake websites and misleading information circulating online.
The development comes just days before the conduct of NEET-PG 2026, which is a crucial examination for medical graduates seeking admission to postgraduate courses. Many candidates had already begun making travel and lodging arrangements based on their previously allotted test cities. The sudden change in information, caused by the glitch, has understandably heightened stress among aspirants at a time when they are focused on final preparations.
NBEMS has reiterated that the applicant portal is the source of authentic information, and that corrected messages have been issued wherever necessary. Candidates are encouraged to check the portal for their final test city allotment and to follow official updates from the Board to avoid any last-minute confusion.
This incident highlights the importance of robust communication systems in high-stakes examinations. While the Board has acted to rectify the error, the episode serves as a reminder for candidates to rely on multiple verified sources and to remain alert to official notifications.
For now, NEET-PG aspirants are advised to stay calm, verify their details through the official portal, and proceed with their exam-day planning accordingly.
