The NEET UG 2026 examination faced major disruption in Jharkhand’s Palamu district after students at one centre were given question papers in the wrong language, leading to confusion and protests during the exam.
The incident occurred at Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila College in Medininagar, where several Hindi-medium candidates reported that they were handed English-language question papers instead of Hindi. This unexpected error caused panic among students, many of whom struggled to understand the questions, ultimately leading to unrest inside the examination hall.
As the situation escalated, students began protesting against what they described as a serious lapse in exam management. They raised concerns about fairness and demanded immediate corrective action, stating that such mistakes could impact their performance in a highly competitive national-level examination like NEET UG.
Authorities were quickly informed about the disruption. Senior district officials rushed to the examination centre to assess the situation and restore order. The examination, which was originally scheduled to be conducted from 2:00 PM to 5:20 PM, had to be temporarily halted due to the chaos.
According to officials, the issue was caused by a technical or administrative error that led to the distribution of incorrect question papers. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sulochana Meena later confirmed that the mistake had been identified and rectified. Following instructions from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the correct question papers were arranged and distributed to the affected candidates.
After the intervention, the examination resumed at around 6:00 PM, allowing students to complete their test. Officials ensured that candidates were given adequate time to finish their exam without further disturbance.
Notably, Palamu district had a total of four examination centres, including KG Girls School, District School, Girivar High School, and Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila College. However, the issue was reported only at the Mahila College centre, while the examination at other centres proceeded smoothly without any disruptions.
Given the seriousness of the incident, top district authorities, including Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat and Superintendent of Police Kapil Chaudhary, remained present at the centre until late evening. Their presence helped maintain law and order and ensured that the examination process was completed without further complications.
The administration has since launched a detailed investigation into the matter to determine how such a lapse occurred and to fix accountability. Officials have assured that necessary steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This incident has raised concerns about the management and preparedness of examination authorities, especially for large-scale competitive exams like NEET UG, where even minor errors can significantly affect students’ performance and future opportunities.
