NEET candidates denied entry after arriving late at exam centres in Mumbai, Bengaluru

Mumbai: Tension prevailed outside an examination centre in Mumbai's Parel area on Sunday after two National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) candidates were denied entry for arriving after the stipulated deadline.

The incident occurred at Maharishi Dayanand College, where authorities closed the gates at the designated cut-off time in accordance with NEET guidelines. The two students, one from Kurla and another from Dombivli, were not allowed to enter the examination centre after reaching late, leading to protests outside the college premises.

According to officials, the gates were shut at the prescribed time and no candidate was permitted to enter thereafter, in line with National Testing Agency (NTA) regulations.

A similar incident was reported in Bengaluru, where four students missed entry to a NEET examination centre after arriving shortly after the 1.30 pm deadline.

Eyewitnesses said an announcement was made at 1.29 pm informing candidates that the gates would close within a minute. The main gate was locked at exactly 1.30 pm, as mandated by examination rules.

Three female candidates reportedly arrived at 1.32 pm and attempted to gain entry by climbing over the railing after finding the main gate closed. However, they were unable to enter the examination hall as the inner gate had also been locked. Another student was said to have missed entry by a minute.

Parents alleged that severe traffic congestion caused by a Congress rally contributed to the delay and claimed there was inadequate police presence to manage traffic movement in the area.

"We left on time but were caught in traffic. Our children's future is at stake," a parent said.

They also alleged that authorities at the examination centre did not respond to their requests for special consideration. However, exam officials maintained that they were bound by NTA rules, which strictly prohibit entry after the scheduled gate-closing time.