Candidates for JEE, NEET, and CUET will no longer be able to select their exam city

Exam centers will be distributed differently for important national-level entrance exams like JEE Main, NEET-UG, and CUET-UG, according to a significant change made by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates will no longer be able to select the cities where they would like to take the exam starting in the 2026–2027 academic year. According to an official notice from the agency, centers will instead be assigned solely based on the address listed on the candidate's Aadhaar card. 

This action represents a substantial change from the previous system, in which students may choose three or four favorite cities when completing their application forms, and is intended to increase openness and reduce impersonation and cheating. Candidates from smaller towns and villages would be assigned to exam centers in or near those locations based on the address listed on their Aadhaar card under the new criteria.

Parents and students, especially those who are studying or living away from their permanent address, are concerned about the decision. 

As a result, the NTA has advised students to confirm and update their Aadhaar information well in advance, warning that once the application window starts, no modifications would be accepted. The rule will extend to other national-level tests after it initially takes effect for the January 2026 JEE Main session.

The verification process has been further strengthened by the agency. Names, birthdates, and other personal information on the Aadhaar card must precisely match those on the Class 10 marksheet. The application form may be canceled for even little spelling mistakes or inconsistencies.