NTA (National Testing Agency) will put a restriction on selecting the preferred exam city from the 2026-27 session of JEE, NEET, and CUET UG. The prominent reason behind implementing this rule is done with a vision to maintain transparency, fairness and stop unfair practices. According to the changes in exam city selection, candidates appearing for any of these competitive exams will not have the liberty to select a test centre as per their preference.

From the 2026-27 session, NTA will allocate an exam centre to the students based on the address updated in their Aadhar Card. No more availability to choose 3-4 test centres while completing the online registration procedure. With the implementation of this guideline, NTA strictly indicates that they will assign a test centre to every candidate that’s located in proximity to their Aadhar card address. 

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Why NTA Changes The Exam City Selection Rule 2026?

NTA announces a completely new set of rules and regulations for assigning the exam centre to the students appearing in the JEE, NEET and CUET UG. The candidates must update their Aadhaar Card address before filling out the application form. Your address mentioned in the Aadhar Card will decide your test centre. Somewhere, this new change about the address-based test centre allotment will level up the competition game. It will allow candidates from every city to appear for the entrance test at the nearest test centre. Most probably, this change will take place from the JEE Mains 2026-27 academic session and later on for NEET 2026 and CUET UG 2026. 

Important Guidelines To Update Aadhar Card Details 

For years, NTA has been the official conducting body for organising JEE, NEET and CUET UG. It often issues a public notice about the exam dates, latest changes, online registration, etc, to create awareness amongst the students. In October 2025, NTA made a public announcement about the Aadhar Card-based exam centre allotment online. This new policy will become effective from the JEE Mains 2026-27 session (January 2026) for candidates from all categories. To ensure smooth application and no travel hindrance, NTA has made it mandatory that every candidate must modify their Aadhar Card address before the online registrations for the 2026-27 session start on the official website.

Common details like your full name (as per the official records), your date of birth and other information available on your Aadhar Card must be identical to the SSC examination proof. If not updated, you must update your Aadhar Card address at the earliest. Once you submit your application form with the address details, you cannot edit it. Any kind of minor discrepancies or spelling mistakes can lead to the cancellation of your application. Furthermore, you will have to visit the UIDAI centre for corrections.

Special Advisory for Reserved Candidates

Any candidate who belongs to the EWS/OBC/ST/ST/PwD category will have to review that all the details on the caste certificate must exactly match the Aadhar Card and the 10th grade certificate or marksheet. There are strict instructions from the NTA authorities that any kind of discrepancy will prohibit them from availing the benefits (if applicable) that fall under their reservation category. If an individual candidate fails to match the uniformity and consistency amongst all the documents, the official authorities will not permit them to appear in the entrance examination. 

Final Words

This significant action taken by the NTA has raised a mixed set of feelings amongst the candidates. Students who are currently residing far away from their Aadhar card address have been wondering if they will face travel complexities while reaching the exam centre on the actual date. NTA knew that this might be the prominent concern. Henceforth, they have addressed the students in advance to update their Aadhar Card address. This powerful move ensures that every candidate will have access to a fair opportunity, and there will be no chance of demeaning actions. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of responsibilities has NTA addressed to the students?

Presently, NTA has made it compulsory for the students to update their Aadhar Card address. Latest changes in the exam city selection rule indicate that NTA will link your test centre with your Aadhar Card address. It’s done with the main objective of curbing impersonation and cheating in these types of national-level entrance examinations.

Are there any additional guidelines for OBC/SC/ST/PwD or EWS category students?

All the candidates who belong to the EWS/OBC/ST/SC/PwD category must check and ensure that their reservation certificate details are similar to the Aadhar Card and Class 10th grade certificate. If any candidate is caught submitting false documents, NTA will straightaway reject their reservation claim or might disqualify them.

Which details must match the Aadhar Card?

The fresh guidelines highlight that your Class 10th records must be identical to your Aadhar Card. Candidates who provide incorrect or incomplete information will face cancellation of their application form in 2026. Check your documents before you proceed to submit the application form online. If they are not up-to-date, then prioritise updating them at the earliest. 

Why has NTA made a new official announcement about exam centre selection?

In the past, candidates appearing in such competitive examinations, which take place at the national level, were found to be involved in uneven and unfair practices. Due to this reason, NTA has come up with a public declaration where test centres will be allocated to the students nearby to their Aadhar Card address. This proactive approach will help them to strengthen fairness and equality. 

From which year will NTA implement the exam city change selection rule 2026?

NTA will start to allocate the exam centres in relevance to the Aadhar address from the 2026-27 academic session. Every candidate must double-check their details on the Aadhar Card, Class 10th marksheet and reservation certificate. Details must be similar on all these documents. Mismatch of documents or any kind of discrepancies will prohibit the particular candidate from appearing in their target competitive exam.