Local officials reached the centre after being informed. With the exam delayed, they contacted the National Testing Agency (NTA) control room to resolve the issue. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh/ representative)
The NEET UG exam in Jharkhand’s Palamu district was delayed Sunday after candidates who had opted for Hindi were given English question papers at a centre in Medininagar. The test eventually continued till around 10 pm.
Scheduled from 2 pm to about 5–5:20 pm, the exam was disrupted at Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila College, one of four centres in the district.
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Candidates said the issue surfaced after question paper packets were opened and distributed. Several students who had opted for Hindi medium said they received the paper in English, making it difficult to understand the questions, triggering protests inside the hall.
Local officials reached the centre after being informed. With the exam delayed, they contacted the National Testing Agency (NTA) control room to resolve the issue.
Following NTA instructions, the correct Hindi question papers were arranged and distributed. The exam resumed after 6 pm and continued till around 10 pm.
Palamu Sub-Divisional Officer Sulochana Meena told The Indian Express that 45 of around 360 candidates at the centre were affected.
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“Snacks were served twice to the affected students, and dinner packets were also provided. Arrangements for buses and cars were made to drop the students home…due to some technical errors, the paper in another language was distributed,” she said.
She, however, declined to specify the source of the technical error, stating the matter is being handled by NTA. “Since the NTA is examining the issue, I cannot tell what were the technical glitches during the exam. We have to wait for that,” the SDO added.
She said while NEET UG exams were held at four centres in Palamu, the issue was reported only at the Mahila College centre, adding that an inquiry had been ordered.
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