Technical issues caused NEET‑PG 2026 candidates to receive incorrect test‑city SMS alerts, prompting NBEMS to advise verification on the official portal.
Incorrect test‑city details were sent via SMS to some candidates on August 12, 2026, prompting confusion across India.NBEMS issued a clarification directing aspirants to verify allocations on the official candidate portal.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) released the NEET‑PG 2026 city intimation slip on Tuesday, August 12, 2026. Within minutes, a subset of candidates reported that the test‑city information received through SMS differed from the city shown on the online applicant portal [1].
NBEMS, the governing body responsible for conducting the NEET‑PG postgraduate medical entrance exam, confirmed that the SMS error affected candidates nationwide [1]. The organization’s clarification, posted on its official website and circulated through media outlets, instructed all aspirants to rely exclusively on the city allocation displayed on the candidate portal for examination logistics [3].
Scope of the Discrepancy
The mismatch was reported by medical graduates and final‑year students registered for NEET‑PG 2026 across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi [1]. Candidates who accessed the portal after the intimation slip release observed correct city allocations, while the SMS they received listed alternate locations [2]. Social media monitoring indicated that dozens of aspirants posted screenshots of both the portal and the SMS, highlighting the inconsistency [1].
NBEMS identified the root cause as a “technical issue” in the automated messaging system that generated and sent the SMS alerts [3]. The board did not disclose specific software components or vendor details, stating only that the error occurred during the batch transmission of city‑allocation messages [3]. No evidence was presented of any alteration to the underlying allocation data; the portal records remained unchanged [2].
Scope of the Discrepancy The mismatch was reported by medical graduates and final‑year students registered for NEET‑PG 2026 across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi [1].
NBEMS Response and Communication
NEET‑PG 2026 Test‑City SMS Mismatch Attributed to Technical Glitch
Following the emergence of complaints, NBEMS issued an official clarification at 10:40 a.m. IST on August 12, 2026, via its website and through a press release [3]. The statement emphasized that the correct test‑city information resides on the candidate portal and that the SMS messages should be disregarded [3]. NBEMS also advised candidates to contact the helpline for any further queries and assured that the technical glitch would be rectified to prevent recurrence [1].
The board’s communication was amplified by major education news portals, including News18, TimesNowNews, and Careers360, which reproduced the clarification and provided step‑by‑step guidance for verifying city allocations [1][2][3]. The news outlets reported that NBEMS had not announced any changes to examination dates, venues, or seating arrangements, reinforcing that the SMS error did not impact the overall conduct of the exam [2].
The SMS discrepancy prompted immediate logistical concerns among candidates preparing to travel to their allotted test centers. Some aspirants reported adjusting travel plans, booking accommodations, or contacting family members based on the erroneous SMS [1]. By directing candidates to the portal, NBEMS aimed to standardize information and reduce further confusion [3].
Educational institutions and coaching centers across India issued advisories to students, urging verification of the portal data before finalizing travel arrangements [2]. The incident also led to an increase in calls to the NBEMS helpline, temporarily raising the volume of inbound queries by an estimated 30 % within the first two hours after the clarification [3].
Broader Implications for Examination Administration
NEET‑PG 2026 Test‑City SMS Mismatch Attributed to Technical Glitch
The incident underscores the reliance on automated communication channels for large‑scale examinations in India. While NBEMS has not announced policy changes, the board indicated that it would review its SMS dispatch protocols to enhance data integrity [3]. No legal actions or formal complaints were recorded as of the time of reporting, and the examination schedule for NEET‑PG 2026 remains unchanged [2].
Stakeholders, including medical colleges and state education authorities, have been briefed on the clarification and are expected to align their support services with the portal‑based information [1]. The swift dissemination of the corrective notice by NBEMS and major news outlets helped contain potential disruptions to candidate travel and accommodation logistics [2].
Key Facts
Educational institutions and coaching centers across India issued advisories to students, urging verification of the portal data before finalizing travel arrangements [2].
What: Incorrect test‑city SMS alerts were sent to NEET‑PG 2026 candidates due to a technical glitch.
When: The issue arose on Tuesday, August 12, 2026, after the city intimation slip release.
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