A significant disruption marred the NEET UG 2026 examination in Jharkhand’s Palamu district on Sunday after the Hindi-medium candidates were allegedly handed question papers in English, leading to chaos and confusion, which quickly turned into protests, and a prolonged delay in the test schedule.

Authorities accused of mismanagement

Official sources said the incident unfolded at the Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila College in the Medininagar area of Palamu, where several Hindi-medium students claimed to have received English-language question papers. The incident triggered unrest on the exam centre premises, as candidates voiced strong objections and accused authorities of mismanagement.

Eyewitnesses said the students refused to proceed with the exam, and were seen arguing that the discrepancy placed them at a disadvantage in one of India’s most competitive entrance exams.

Senior officials rush to restore order

After the situation spiralled out of control, the local authorities were notified. Subsequently, the senior district officials rushed to the exam centre to restore order and address the grievances of the agitated candidates.

Owing to the confusion, the exam, set to be held from 2 pm to 5:30 pm, could not commence on time. The delay stretched for hours, ingraining anxiety among candidates and their parents alike. Corrective measures were finally implemented after the National Testing Agency (NTA) issued directives, and the exam resumed after 6 pm under heightened supervision.

Administrative officials blame technical error for lapse

Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sulochana Meena told the media that a technical glitch in the distribution process caused the lapse. She added that incorrect question papers had been issued inadvertently, but assured that the problem was fixed in time. “After correction, students were able to complete their exam peacefully,” she said.

Probe ordered into incident

The disruption remained confined to a single centre in Palamu, while three other exam centres went forward with the exam without any hiccups. Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, top district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat and Superintendent of Police (SP) Kapil Chaudhary were present at the college until late evening to ensure normalcy and uphold the integrity of the examination process.

Meanwhile, the district administration has ordered an in-depth probe into the lapse, and officials are expected to examine accountability, so that such incidents can be prevented in future.