'What if biometrics fail?' Parents raise alarm ahead of NEET UG 2026

A different kind of anxiety is quietly growing in homes across India just a few days before the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) on May 3, when most conversations should ideally revolve around revision strategies and remaining calm. This anxiety has nothing to do with the question paper or the likely high cutoffs this year. Instead, it is about what might happen before a student even enters the exam room, and it affects nearly 24 lakh candidates nationwide. Some parents claim that they are still looking for responses to fundamental but crucial questions at a time when students ought to be solely concentrating on their preparation. On April 26, Prashant Jhingran, a parent of a NEET aspirant, reached out with a concern that many others have since echoed.

 His question was simple and fundamental: what happens if biometric verification fails at the exam centre, and does the National Testing Agency have a clear backup plan in place?

 It is not an abstract fear.  Last year, there were reports of fingerprint mismatches, delays at entry gates, power outages that disrupted exam schedules, and even instances of students being held up at centres.  Even a minor interruption can quickly turn into panic on a test where every second counts. In his message to us, Jhingran, Director of Product at Visa Direct, stated, "I have written emails, tweeted, and even sent a physical letter to NTA." Clarity is all I'm asking for. What is the back-up plan in the event that something goes wrong at the center? A technical issue should not put students at risk. WE TRUST THE SYSTEM.  However, is it ready? In Kota, where thousands of students have spent years preparing for this exam, Vaishnavi Sharma has been trying to keep her daughter focused on revision.  But the closer the exam gets, the more practical worries creep in.

 “She’s prepared well, that's not my concern.  But what if, when she finally reaches the center, her fingerprint doesn't match? Will someone ensure that she has full-time employment? Or will she simply be required to deal with it? she silently queries.  Vaishnavi is not on X and feels she has no clear way to raise these concerns with the authorities.

 "We are trusting the system, but we also want the system itself to be ready too," she adds, almost as an afterthought. BEYOND BIOMETRICS

 Sanjeev Verma, a Samsung Technologies employee in Delhi whose son will be taking the NEET for the first time, is approaching the issue from a different perspective. His concerns pertain to the actual exam environment. He says, "Every year we hear about problems at certain centers, like poor ventilation, overcrowding, and basic arrangements being missing." “Why is there no clear communication on these things beforehand?  Why are parents left guessing?”

 For him, it’s not about raising an alarm, it's about removing uncertainty.  After all these are national-level exams, the process should feel predictable.

 NTA's LATEST ADVISORY

 To be fair, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued an advisory requesting that candidates update their Aadhaar biometric information prior to the examination. Additionally, it has made available a video of awareness that explains the verification process at centers. The warning is crystal clear.  If your biometric data doesn’t match, you could face delays, additional checks, or complications at entry.

 Students have taken this very seriously, and many have even double-checked documents and updated information to make sure nothing was left to chance. But for parents, that advisory answers only half the question.  What happens if everything is done correctly — and yet the system fails?

 THE GHOSTS OF LAST YEAR

 That question matters because the memory of last year hasn’t faded.  Even though not every center was affected by reports of biometric glitches and logistical issues, they were enough to make an impression. For students inside the exam hall, even a few minutes of delay can feel overwhelming.  It can be more difficult for parents waiting outside because there is nothing they can do. NEET UG is not just another exam.  For over 24 lakh students, it is often the only path they see towards a career in medicine.  Families plan years around it, and students build their days around it.  The majority of applicants are doing what they can at this point, revising notes, attempting to remain calm, and solving practice tests. However, alongside that preparation is a more muted worry that has little to do with biology or physics. On exam day, will everything go according to plan? What parents are asking for is not any special treatment, or for easier papers or even relaxed rules.  They are seeking absolute clarity; they are asking for a system that ensures delays don’t eat into exam time, basic facilities that match the scale of the exam.  Because when the stakes are this high, even small uncertainties feel amplified.

 With just days to go, most students will push these questions to the back of their minds and focus on what they can control.  However, parents frequently think ahead. Because sometimes, your child's greatest fear is not whether they are prepared, but rather whether their environment is prepared.