The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced a last-minute change in the examination centre for a section of NEET UG 2026 candidates appearing in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Candidates who were originally allotted the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Cultural Centre at the University of Allahabad will now have to appear at a different venue on exam day- 21 June 2026. Fresh Admit Cards reflecting the updated centre have already been issued and are available for download on the NTA official website.
The announcement was made through a public notice dated 18 June 2026, issued by the Director General of NTA. The notice confirmed that the venue change has been made on administrative grounds and that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the affected candidates at the new location.
Why Was the Exam Centre Changed? Understanding the Reason
The decision to shift the examination venue was not taken arbitrarily. According to the public notice issued by NTA, the District Administration of Prayagraj brought to NTA’s attention that the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Cultural Centre was facing serious logistical challenges that could disrupt the smooth conduct of the examination.
Two specific issues were cited – ongoing construction work within or around the premises, and the non-availability of electricity at the venue. Both of these factors would have made it practically impossible to conduct a national-level competitive examination like NEET UG 2026 in a fair, smooth, and uninterrupted manner.
Given the scale of NEET UG – which is conducted across hundreds of centres nationwide and involves lakhs of students – ensuring that each centre meets the minimum infrastructure standards is non-negotiable. Following recommendations from the District Level Committee and the District Administration, NTA took the decision to relocate the examination to a nearby alternate venue within the same university campus.
Join NEET News 2026 This kind of last-minute venue change, while inconvenient for students, reflects the importance NTA places on maintaining examination integrity and ensuring that candidates are not disadvantaged by inadequate infrastructure at their allotted centres.
Old Centre vs New Centre: What Has Changed
The new examination centre is located within the University of Allahabad itself, which means candidates do not have to travel to an entirely different part of the city. The shift is within the same university premises, just to a different building and campus block.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NEET UG 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Date | 21 June 2026 |
| Affected City | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh |
| Previous Centre | Harivansh Rai Bachchan Cultural Centre, University of Allahabad, Near Indian Press Chauraha, Opposite Chandrashekhar Azad Park Gate No. 3, Prayagraj – 211002 |
| New Centre | Department of Medieval and Modern History, Senate House Campus, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj – 211002 |
| Reason for Change | Ongoing construction work and non-availability of electricity at the old venue |
| Notice Date | 18 June 2026 |
Candidates are strongly advised to note the full address of the new centre carefully and plan their travel accordingly. Since both venues are within the University of Allahabad campus, the distances involved are minimal but candidates should still visit or verify the exact location of the Department of Medieval and Modern History building within the Senate House Campus ahead of exam day to avoid any last-minute confusion.
Fresh Admit Cards Issued: Here’s What You Need to Know
One of the most important actions NTA has taken alongside the venue change is the issuance of fresh Admit Cards to all affected candidates. These revised Admit Cards carry the updated examination centre details and have been made available for download on the NTA official portal.
Candidates can download their new Admit Card by visiting https://neet.nta.nic.in and logging in with their registered credentials the same login ID and password they used during the application process.
It is important to note that the new Admit Card is not just a formality. It serves as the official document reflecting the candidate’s revised examination centre, and carrying it to the exam hall is strongly recommended.
However, NTA has also made a considerate provision for candidates who may not have been able to download the new Admit Card in time. The public notice explicitly states that candidates who still possess their old Admit Card the one showing the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Cultural Centre will also be permitted to appear at the new examination centre, subject to due verification by the invigilating staff.
This dual arrangement ensures that no candidate is left out or denied entry simply due to an administrative change that was entirely beyond their control.
Am I Affected? How to Check
Not all NEET UG 2026 candidates in Prayagraj are affected by this change only those who were specifically allotted the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Cultural Centre at the University of Allahabad as their examination venue.
If you are unsure whether you fall in this category, here is what you should do:
- Log in to https://neet.nta.nic.in using your credentials.
- Check whether a new Admit Card has been generated for you.
- If your Admit Card now shows the Department of Medieval and Modern History, Senate House Campus as your centre, you are among the affected candidates and must report to the new venue on 21 June 2026.
- If your Admit Card still shows your original centre unchanged, you are not affected by this notification and must report to your original allotted centre as before.
Candidates appearing at other centres across Prayagraj or elsewhere in the country are not impacted by this notice and do not need to take any action.
What Candidates Should Do Next: A Step-by-Step Checklist
Given that the exam is just days away, affected candidates must act quickly. Here is a simple checklist to follow:
- Download the new Admit Card from https://neet.nta.nic.in immediately using your login credentials.
- Verify the new centre address Department of Medieval and Modern History, Senate House Campus, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj – 211002.
- Plan your travel route to the new centre and, if possible, do a trial run to the venue before exam day.
- Carry both Admit Cards if you have already printed the old one the new one is preferable, but the old one is also accepted with verification.
- Carry a valid photo ID along with your Admit Card as required under NEET UG examination guidelines.
- Report well before the reporting time mentioned on your Admit Card, as entry gates typically close before the examination begins.
Having Trouble Downloading the Admit Card? Contact NTA
If for any reason you are unable to download the revised Admit Card from the official website whether due to a technical issue, login problem, or any other difficulty you can reach out to NTA directly for assistance:
- Helpline Numbers: 011-40759000 / 011-69227700
- Email: neetug2026@nta.ac.in
NTA’s support team handles queries related to NEET UG 2026 and can assist you in accessing your Admit Card before the examination.
Conclusion
The NTA has made a timely and necessary adjustment by relocating the NEET UG 2026 examination centre from the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Cultural Centre to the Department of Medieval and Modern History, Senate House Campus, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj. This change has been made due to practical infrastructure issues at the original venue and is aimed at ensuring a smooth experience for candidates.
Affected candidates must download their revised Admit Card immediately from https://neet.nta.nic.in, verify the new centre details, and plan their exam day accordingly. Those facing any difficulty are encouraged to contact NTA through the official helpline numbers or email without delay.
